The Crime Writers’ Association


Reading Party will William Dean


Third time lucky with the Debut Dagger, by Anna Caig

I’ve wanted to write crime fiction ever since I read Death on the Nile as a teenager and was blown away that something so clever, so dazzling and brilliant, could even exist. But life takes over, doesn’t it. It was only in 2017, when I saved up e...


Opening Windows, by John Kennedy

A certain writer, arguably lauded for the wrong things but at the same time often underrated, once said something about writing behind closed doors and rewriting with the window open. Well, for me, the Debut Dagger competition opened that window. Get...


Litfest 2023

Lancaster's literature festival explores the best of contemporary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. This year's event will feature bestselling crime writer MW Craven amongst others. And the best thing is, the entire weekend is completely free! Can't m...


The Debuts: What are you going to call it?

Choosing the title of your novel is almost as big a decision as deciding to write it in the first place. Do you go for something quirky and run the risk of people not understanding it – or choose a more obvious title which then doesn’t sound inte...


Debut Dagger Tips: Kristina Stanley

  Prepare to be deeply jealous when you find out the circumstances in which Kristina Stanley penned her Debut Dagger shortlisted novel, Blaze. However, despite a deeply glamourous writing story, the Canadian newcomer faced the same struggle as a...


Bookseller of the Month: November 2022 – Bert’s Books

As part of the new CWA Bookshops Champion initiative, we want to celebrate bookshops, because we believe bookshops don’t just sell our books – they bring our streets alive. This month, William Shaw introduces us to Bert's Books in Swindon. Ber...


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