The Crime Writers’ Association

Minor Characters by J G Harlond

Most characters in a crime novels are potential suspects, so even if they are minor or secondary characters, make their presence and dialogue meaningful. In historical crime fiction these people should of course also reflect or exemplify the lifestyl...


Conferences

CWA ConferenceYork Conference 2023 - gala dinner is FULL! Although a month before registration deadline, our annual get together - this year in York - has proved hugely popular. As a result, places on our Saturday night gala dinner are now full. How...


Chapters

Chapters We know that our members are based all around the world and we have established regional chapters to help our members connect with other writers. There are also speciality chapters for non-fiction and neurodiverse authors. If there is an...


Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Ian Fleming said there was one essential criterion for a good thriller, ‘one simply has to turn the pages’. Eligible books in this category are thrillers set in any period and include, but are not limited to, spy fiction...


Gold Dagger

Gold Dagger This award is for the best crime novel by an author of any nationality, originally written in English and first published in the UK during the judging period. The broadest definition of the crime novel applies. Eligible books include thr...


The Best Bit of Writing Advice I Was Ever Given by Morgan Cry

Gordon Brown aka Morgan Cry When I signed a two-book deal with Polygon back in 2019 under the new name of Morgan Cry, I was ecstatic. I delivered both books to the publisher by late 2019 and thought, what do I do now? I knew that there was editing a...


Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate 19-22 July 2018

The world-class, award-winning Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, now in its 15th year, returns to the magnificent Old Swan Hotel this summer from the 19-22 July. Celebrating the very best in crime fiction, the Festival is a firm date in ...


Debut Dagger

Emerging Author Dagger (Debut Dagger) Announcements Congratulations to our 2024 Shortlist Authors! See below for details. Winner: Dagger Awards Dinner, evening of Thursday 4 July, Leonardo City Hotel, London. All announcements will also appe...


Debut Dagger

Emerging Author Dagger (Debut Dagger) Announcements Congratulations to our 2024 Longlist Authors! See below for details. Shortlist: CrimeFest, Bristol on Friday 10 May, early evening Winner: Dagger Awards Dinner, evening of Thursday 4 Jul...


Celebrate National Crime Reading Month on 8 May with Rachel Abbott and Sharon Bolton

Celebrate National Crime Reading Month with Bolton Central Library and Museum as Bestselling, Award winning crime writers Rachel Abbott and Sharon Bolton will be talking about their exciting new books. Rachel's new book "Come a Little Closer" has be...


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