Central Public Library, Programme Zone

100 Victoria Street, National Library Board, Singapore 188064

Turning Archival Research into a Bestselling Novel

Speaker: Paul French
Author of Midnight in Peking and City of Devils
Paul French is a historian and author who got very lucky twice at the National Library in Singapore. On two visits, he found material in the archives that was key to writing his bestselling true crime books Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China and City of Devils:  The Two Men Who Ruled the Underworld of Old Shanghai. Now, French returns to the library to share how he approached his search; when he knew he had struck gold; and how to turn your library finds into a bestseller. Whether you’re researching world history, Singapore history or your own family’s story, the National Library could just hold the keys to getting your story on the New York Times bestseller list.

About the Author
Paul French was born in London, educated there and in Glasgow, and lived and worked in Shanghai for many years. His book Midnight in Peking was a New York Times Bestseller, a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, a Mystery Writers’ of America Edgar award winner for Best Fact Crime and a Crime Writers’ Association (UK) Dagger award for non-fiction. His most recent book City of Devils has received much praise with The Economist writing, ‘…in Mr French the city has its champion storyteller.’ Both Midnight in Peking and City of Devils are currently being developed for television.

It’s free but you need top register here

Paul French’s participation is made possible by Singapore Writers Festival.