The Crime Writers’ Association

How to Write a Great Synopsis for Your Emerging Author Dagger Entry, by Shortlisted Entrant Caroline Arnoul

When I was preparing my entry for the Emerging Dagger award (then the Debut Dagger) last year, it was the 1,500-word synopsis that I found most daunting.  I’d not written a synopsis of more than 300-400 words before, and I hadn’t finished my ...


Byte the Book: How Can We Sell More Books Through Non-Traditional Retail Channels?

Date: Monday 14th November 2016 Time: 18:30 to 21:00 Location: The Groucho Club, London Not specifically aimed at crime writers, but interetsing for writers in general. Byte the Book asks: as sales channels for books become increasingly polarised,...


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Useful info This is where we keep a selection of other useful guides and information. Author profile guide Want to know how to keep your CWA author profile and books up to date? Watch our handy video guide to find out. Social media gu...


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Mark West was born in Northamptonshire and now lives there with his wife Alison and their teenaged son Matthew (who’s more often than not referred to as Dude). He grew up reading The Three Investigators and discovered horror in the early 80s wi...


A Detective’s Take on Crime Fiction

CWA Scotland — A Detective's Take on Crime Writing 27 June 2024 at 7 pm with Iain Souter. Iain is a second-generation copper from a crop of three who followed their father into the service in Northern Constabulary… pre-Police Scotland. He...


Simon Scarrow in conversation with David Young

On Thursday 8 April, 7pm, the CWA is hosting multi-million bestselling author Simon Scarrow, talking about his new novel, Blackout, with David Young, winner of the CWA Historical Dagger with Stasi Child. Blackout, Simon’s first crime thriller, in...


An Evening of Cyber-Espionage with Antony Johnston – was 28 February, now 15 March

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO BAD WEATHER THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THURSDAY 15 MARCH An Evening of Cyber-Espionage with Antony Johnston Presented by Imagined Things & Destination Venus Antony will read from his acclaimed new spy thriller...


A Detective’s Take on Crime Fiction

Join former copper, former detective, and present-day librarian Iain Souter for a fun and informative cop's eye view of crime fiction! Iain Souter is a second-generation police officer from a crop of three, who followed their father into the servi...


An Evening with Sir Alec Jeffreys

An Evening with Sir Alec Jeffreys Join the Royal Society of Biology for an evening with Sir Alec Jeffreys on Monday 16th May 2016 at the Science Museum’s IMAX Theatre, London. The inventor of forensic DNA fingerprinting tells his story at this s...


“Proof Behind the Plot” – a forensic workshop for crime writers

In celebration of National Crime Reading Month, Think Forensic are hosting an interactive workshop led by their forensic and crime investigation experts, in Huddersfield. The workshop has been designed specifically to give all writers, whether new...


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