Alison Joseph takes over as CWA chair
Peter James has stood down after two years chairing the Crime Writers’ Association, to be replaced by Alison Joseph.
Alison was handed the traditional Creasey Bell, named for the CWA’s founder, during its Diamond Jubilee conference held over the last weekend in April. Alison said, “Peter James has been a wonderful Chair. He has been extremely hard-working and committed. In his time as Chair he has succeeded in raising the CWA's profile, not only in this country but internationally too. He’ll be a hard act to follow.”
Writing in Red Herrings, the CWA’s in-house magazine, Peter James said “It has taken very much more of my time than I had envisaged, but I don’t begrudge a second of it. The CWA is a wonderful organisation, and I’ve been proud to help navigate it, along with the wisdom and energy of our outgoing Director, Claire McGowan and the fantastic group of people who make up our Committee, through the turbulent waters of the book world during these two years.”
As well as being a crime writer, Alison Joseph is a radio dramatist. Her Sister Agnes novels are available as e-books and have also been featured on BBC Radio 4.
Thirteen in the running for Dagger in the Library
The judging panel for this year’s Dagger in the Library Award are pleased to announce the longlist for the 2013 award. Mobeena Khan, who chairs the judges, said “We have been thrilled with the response and the nominations we have received from libraries up, down and across the country and have been knee deep in books since January. As ever, the selection process proved tough and there was much discussion before we arrived at our chosen longlist. We are all eagerly reading on for the shortlisting process and are thrilled to see some new names as well as some familiar ones on this year’s list.”
The thirteen authors in contention this year are Belinda Bauer, Alison Bruce, S.J. Bolton, Peter May, Gordon Ferris, Tania Carver, Elly Griffiths, Christopher Fowler, Michael Ridpath, Jane Casey, Phil Rickman, Alex Gray and Frances Brody. The shortlist will be announced at Crimefest on 31st May, with the eventual winner being revealed at the Daggers Gala Dinner on 15th July. More information on the Daggers in the Library page.
The CWA introduces Corporate Membership
Are you a publisher, literary agent, bookseller or otherwise connected with the production of CWA members’ work, whether in print, on stage, in film, radio or television? The CWA now offers Corporate Membership so that you can extend many of the benefits of membership to your staff, and show your support for the CWA.
There’s more information on the benefits and costs, and an application form, over on the Corporate Membership page.
Daggers update
The closing date has now passed for all CWA Daggers, though the books entered this year may have a publication date up to 31 May. Judging panels are now sifting through the hundreds of entries to draw up the shortlists, most of which will be revealed at Crimefest on 31st May, with the eventual winners being announced at the Daggers Gala Dinner on 15th July. The dinner will also see the award of the CWA Diamond Dagger to Lee Child.
Three CWA Daggers – the Gold, Ian Fleming Steel, and John Creasey – follow a later timetable. The longlists are announced at the Gala Dinner, shortlists follow a month later, and the winners are revealed at the televised Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards in the autumn.
CWA Manuscript Assessment Service
The Crime Writers’ Association has been receiving very positive feedback from the first clients of its Manuscript Assessment Service for aspiring crime fiction writers. This service helps you to polish your writing, and prepare your manuscript for submission to agents and publishers. You can choose to submit either the opening chapters or a completed novel. You will then receive a detailed critique from a member of the CWA, all of whom are published crime writers.
Manuscripts can be uploaded via this section of our website, which has full submission guidelines.
CWA chair Alison Joseph welcomes you to our web site
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