Celebrating the Best in Crime Fiction

It's time for my Wednesday blog post so I thought I'd share an article I was asked to write about the CWA Dagger Award Dinner to which I was invited, as a judge for the Debut Dagger Award.

 With Lucy Santos, Director of the CWA, and Lizzie Hayes, editor of Mystery People

The CWA Dagger Awards Dinner was a glittering affair, with too many luminaries of the genre present to name everyone. After a glass or two of Prosecco on the terrace overlooking the river, 

   Leigh Russell, Simon Brett, Ruth Dudley Edwards and Ali Karim on the terrace

we were welcomed by Alison Joseph, Chair of the CWA. 

Lucy Worsley gave a fascinating lecture on 19th century murder cases, discussing how the idea for a perfect murder has changed over time, and explaining that the night watchmen in the capital in those days tended to be elderly, as younger men would be distracted by prostitutes. 'A good murder' boosted sales of the broadsides - the forerunner of modern newspapers - prompting de Quincey's satirical piece 'On Murder as Considered one of the Fine Arts.' Finally, Lucy described her feelings on seeing the scalp of William Corder - 'disgust, chills, and glee' - which sums up our response to crime fiction. 

            With TV presenters  Lucy Worsley and Hallie Rubenhold

The long-list for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, the CWA Goldsboro Gold Dagger and CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger were announced followed by the winners of the CWA Debut Dagger, CWA Short Story Dagger, CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger, CWA Non-fiction and CWA International Dagger. Alison Joseph presented the CWA Diamond Dagger to Simon Brett who entertained us with his acceptance speech. All that, and a fabulous dinner, made this a memorable evening. 

Cheers!

The CWA New Blood Dagger Shortlist

What would induce me to get up at 5.30 in the morning? The mystery grew darker as I hurried to catch the first train up to London. Was I going on holiday? No, although the reason for my excursion begins with the same letter… Sorry, as a crime writer I tend to think in ‘clues’, but without more ado, I’ll come clean and confess: I was travelling to Harrogate as an invited guest at the ITV3 Crime Thriller Season Launch Ceremony sponsored by Specsavers.
The shortlist for the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger was announced at a lunchtime ceremony at the The Crown Hotel, Harrogate during the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. This award is made in memory of CWA founder John Creasey, for first books by previously unpublished writers.
CWA Chairman Tom Harper said: “The CWA Dagger Awards have always enjoyed huge prestige among crime fiction fans and authors. The shortlists this year are incredibly strong, and that for the John Creasey has some exciting new talents, all working at the top of their game.”
The shortlisted books:
Acts of Violence, Ryan David Jahn (Pan)
Cut Short, Leigh Russell (No Exit Press)
Martyr, Rory Clements (John Murray)
Random, Craig Robertson (Simon & Schuster)
Stop Me, Richard Jay Parker (Allison & Busby)
Rupture, Simon Lelic (Picador)
The Holy Thief, William Ryan (Mantle )
The Pull of the Moon, Diane Janes (Robinson)
And if you haven’t worked it out yet – check the second book on the list.

At the risk of sounding conceited, I'm feeling pleased with myself, as you can see in the photo on the right (courtesy of Ali Karim.)

In this photo (left) from Harrogate I'm flanked by two Giants of Crime Fiction, Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham (and I was wearing my highest heels...) If you've met them, you'll know they are not only brilliant writers but very entertaining company.

http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/2010/newblood.html

The Daggers will be awarded at a televised ceremony in the Autumn, as part of the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards, details of which were also announced at the ceremony at Harrogate.

CWA Chairman Tom Harper (pictured) said: “The CWA Dagger Awards have always enjoyed huge prestige among crime fiction fans and authors. The shortlists this year are incredibly strong, from exciting new talents to established masters, all working at the top of their game. We’re thrilled with the way Cactus TV and ITV3 have embraced the Daggers to bring them to the widest possible audience. Together with the retail promotion, more people than ever are now getting the chance to discover the best crime writing in the UK.”
The CWA Dagger Awards are the longest established literary awards in the UK and are internationally recognised as a mark of excellence and achievement.

So I was there to hear my name read out as one of the eight authors shortlisted for the John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award.

Was I excited? What do you think! Excited, proud, and completely stunned.

I'm very pleased we took some photos, or I don't think I'd believe this is really happening. Here I am with Linda Regan, a fellow Mystery Woman.

And finally, a big thank you to my publisher for opening these doors for me. http://www.noexit.co.uk/index.php

Now - back to Geraldine Steel. I have another book to write, and my fictional world seems more believable than my life right now!

But before I go, here's CUT SHORT... Did I mention it's been shortlisted for the CWA 2010 John Creasey New Bloood Dagger Award?