A CRIME writing festival with 70 authors, two stages, karaoke, a play, interviews, a bar, and more is taking place in aid of a young homeless charity.

Chilterns Kills, organised by lawyer and crime writer Tony Kent, will take place at Colston Hall in Gerrards Cross on October 7.

The event, which will see authors such as Ruth Ware, Clare Douglas, Alex North, Claire Mackintosh, Mark Billingham and many more, is promised to be a ‘unique day’ for an ‘amazing charity’ – Centrepoint Youth Charity.

READ MORE: Company ordered to pay £1.5k after driving fails to give identity to police

Mr Kent, a thriller writer and criminal barrister, decided to organise the event after seeing the venue and realising it lent itself to an ‘intense, one-day festival’.

He said: “We worked out we could have a really intense fun day and make something different.

“I’ve always been involved in various charities, I’ve done lots of fundraisers over the years. I’ve always wanted to do something with Centrepoint because it’s an amazing charity, a wonderful charity.

“So I reached out to different crime authors, they’re mainly mates of mine. I just said I cannot pay them but it’s for an amazing charity and they all said yes.”

READ MORE: Driver ordered to pay over £1k after being caught speeding

The event, sponsored by Sacla’ BP Collins, and Fairweather Insurance, will include 20 different panels, a play performed by authors, 1-2-1 interviews, a wide variety of food, a Windsor and Eton beer tent staffed by authors in crime-themed costumes, a book store with signed books, and more.

“It’s a mini festival,” said Mr Kent. “I thought there was an appeal to do it all in one day and doing it intensely and people can do so much.”

Mr Kent has been in the English bar for over 20 years. He started writing his book, Killer Intent, at the age of 22 before his pupillage at Belview Row.

“I always wanted to be a writer and a lawyer,” he said. “So, I started to write my first book three weeks before my pupillage.

“I wrote the first three chapters and then the pupillage started and I didn’t touch the book again until I was 30, I started at 22 - it just took over my life.

“When I was 30, I was in a very, very long trial at the Old Bailey, it was three months this trial, and I thought I needed to find something to do so I found time to finish Killer Intent.

READ MORE: In the Dock: Man caught interfering with vehicle with intent to steal

“I then made a decision at end of the trial that I needed to change my career. I realised I wouldn’t get the opportunity again if I was in chambers.

“I was constantly in court and I never had time to write and I really caught the bug so I set something up on my own so I could manage my time.

“I’ve been very, very lucky and it has worked well.”

When asked if his job as a lawyer inspires his work, Mr Kent said: “It’s always made up.

“We represent some seriously notorious people and they know I write as well so if they read one of my books and it resembled them in any way there would be consequences - I wouldn’t risk it.”

Laughing, he added: “I’m surrounded by the greatest possible inspiration but I can’t use it.”

Summarising the event, Mr Kent concluded: “This is for anyone who likes reading, anyone who likes reading crime, and anyone who likes to do something different.

“There’s nothing like this, it’s unique. This is an opportunity to maybe do something that is completely different where they will meet a lot of people.

READ MORE: CRIME ROUND-UP: Bucks crime stories from this week

“The crime writing crowd are just about the most welcoming bunch.”

For more information, or for tickets, visit chilternkills.com