The Crime Writers’ Association

After 20 years, would-be crime novelists find it more rewarding than ever to enter the CWA Debut Dagger Competition

Amended 8.12.17 The CWA Debut Dagger for the opening of a crime novel, established in 1998, is renowned within the crime writing world as a way for unpublished authors to get known, with former winners and shortlisted entrants going on to win publish...


Bookshop of the Month – April 2022: Reading Matters


Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival

Lin Anderson and Alex Gray started the festival in 2012 and now it’s huge. This year’s featured authors include Chris Curran, Val McDermid, Irvine Welsh, Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Peter James, Stuart Macbride, Chris Brookmyre, Ragnar Jonasson, M...


Northern Ireland is Set for NCRM 2024

PRESS RELEASE The Crime Writers Association, National Crime Reading Month NI Crime Writers team up with Libraries NI and local bookstores to celebrate National Crime Reading Month with a host of events across the province throughout June. Fo...


Join the CWA

Join the CWA Who can join? We offer full membership for those in the UK and overseas who have had published a full length work of crime fiction or non-fiction, and provisional membership for those who have a contract from a recognised publishing ho...


Main page

Welcome… To the Members' Area of the CWA website. Here you can download the latest Red Herrings, complete your author profile, read more about membership benefits, find local chapters, get advice on promoting your books, and much more. Use the ...


Main page

Welcome… To the Members' Area of the CWA website. Here you can download the latest Red Herrings, complete your author profile, read more about membership benefits, find local chapters, get advice on promoting your books, and much more. Use the ...


Writing a crime thriller with your sister is MURDER!

Neet Neilson and Marina Clement, talk about the pros and cons of writing with a partner, how they survived the experience and what to look for if thinking of collaborating on writing a novel. They will read excerpts from the two sisters (Jinny and Al...


A Mind to Murder – book launch in New York

For those in New York, CWA member Daniella Bernett will be doing a reading and signing copies of A Mind To Murder, the latest book in her Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series about a journalist and a jewel thief. To find out more and to book...


Watching the Detectives with Cath Staincliffe

Watching the Detectives with Cath Staincliffe who will be talking about creating the Blue Murder series and writing books based on the Scott and Bailey drama. The event is being held on Tuesday 13th February 2018 at the following Nottingham Librarie...


Join the CWA

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


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