Yesterday I went into the city for the Writers' Festival panel on 'Crimes within Crimes' with British author Tom Rob Smith and Australia's Marshall Browne. I got in early, so had time to wander around the second-hand book stalls, and also take a look in the overcrowded bookshop that was selling titles by the various Writers' Festival panellists. I hadn't read books by either of the authors I went to see and thought about buying a couple - but I couldn't find an Australian price on the cover, so didn't. I found a British price and rather wished I had my Pommie money still with me so I could have said, "Here's the seven pounds ninety-five - that's what it says on the cover". So I'll look out for the books elsewhere, where I can see a price, I think.

The panel was interesting, though there seemed to be a bit of friction between Tom Rob Smith and Liz Gaynor, a judge who was chairing the panel. I'm not sure what that was all about, but he seemed to contradict everything she said. Anyway, Marshall Browne was very relaxed and interesting and talked about how he never plans his books. He begins with a visual image and takes it from there, never knowing what's going to happen next. Tom Rob Smith says he plots his books beforehand, so he has some sort of structure to work with as he's going.

Afterwards, I met a friend from my writing group for a drink, and we went to a fabulous bar with a view over the Yarra to the Arts Centre. Then I came back and watched the cricket till I feel asleep. So I didn't see Trott's century. Very interestingly poised is this final test match - my gut feeling is that Australia can bat it out for two days for a draw and retain the Ashes. Actually, I wouldn't put it past them to send that ball flying to the boundary over and over for an almost unbelievable win. I don't know if I can stand the tension tonight!