The Crime Writers’ Association

Debut Dagger Submission Info

The deadline is Monday 28 February, 6pm GMT. Read the full rules here; remember eligibility has changed this year. You can purchase your entry voucher before you enter so as to make the process less stressful.   If you chose to pre-pay y...


Private: What a Difference a Dagger Makes: Debut Dagger winner Bill Crotty tells of doors that have opened since the award

I had never won anything in my life.  Absolutely nothing.  Lucky dips were never lucky; not a single raffle ever ended with my ticket being called.  School sports day was a wasteland.  No kind of race did I ever win: sack, three-l...


Take Three Crime Writers: Julie Wassmer, William Shaw and Lisa Cutts

Wassmer, an Eastenders writer for 20 years, now has a huge following with her crime series. In MurderFest, Pearl Nolan investigates the murder of a famous author at an Arts Festival. Val Mc Dermid says of Shaw’s atmospheric Kent mysteries ‘if yo...


CWA Conference York 2023

An Overview by Matthew Booth The old adage says that time flies when you’re having fun and, like many old sayings, it is true. And that probably explains why this year’s conference, held primarily in the Park Inn by Radisson in York, seemed to f...


Mad or Bad Workshop with Barbara Nadel

Mad or Bad Workshop with Barbara Nadel Come along to this workshop to find out what it means to be mad or bad and whether wickedness exists? How does the law and psychiatry decide whether someone who has committed a crime was sane or mentally unwel...


CWA Dagger Awards Terms and Conditions of Entry

CWA Daggers Terms and Conditions of Entry Three categories of people can nominate a title for the CWA Daggers. Approved publishers; Traditionally published authors whose book or title is published (not merely distributed) in the UK; ...


2022 winning story

Locked In - Scott Hunter There’s something singularly evil about a crime carried out in secret, don’t you think? Especially if it is repeated on a regular basis. And especially if the victim is powerless to prevent it. Let me explain my cir...


Society of Authors Urges Findaway Voices to Clarify New Terms of Use

The Society of Authors has voiced deep concern over new phrases included in a revised Terms of Use document from audiobook distributor Findaway Voices by Spotify. The new terms gave Findaway Voices a range of new rights over creators’ works, in...


Crime Writers in Residence – at home with PJ Quinn

The CRA: Please tell us a little about yourself and the books you write. As half of PJ Quinn I (Pauline Kirk) write the DI Ambrose mysteries with my daughter, Jo Summers. To date, we’ve collaborated on four novels: Foul Play, Poison Pen, Close Dis...


CrimeCon: Festival of True Crime Comes Live to London

CrimeCon, the world’s biggest true crime festival, will once again be live and in central London this autumn: across the weekend of 25-26 September. True crime fans, starved of in-person events, will be able to meet authors, publishers, documentary...


Join the CWA

Become part of a thriving community of successful crime writers with invaluable support, expertise and marketing opportunities for all our members.


Advertise with us