The Crime Writers’ Association

Private: Joffe Books New Publication Prize for Crime Writers of Colour

Joffe Books, in conjunction with bestselling crime writer Dorothy Koomson and literary agent Susan Yearwood, is seeking to discover a new crime fiction writer to join our bestselling list. We are launching a new writing prize for unagented crime fict...


Debut Dagger Checklist

Have you followed the rules? This is the easy bit, so don’t risk disqualification by exceeding the word limit (don’t do this, not by even a few words) or forget to take your name off the manuscript. Word count for the entry form is that o...


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...


2023 winning story

How to Catch a Bullet in a Plate and Other Tricks to Astound - Judith O’Reilly He never performed the trick at a matinee show as he didn’t like to worry the children in the audience. At least there was that, Mrs Conway thought, as the red bloo...


Selling TV and Film Rights with Yasmin McDonald

Join us for the 2024 CWA Crime Writers’ Clinics! This event is free for CWA members and £15 for non-members. Thinking of joining? You can apply here. Nov 7th 7.00pm Selling Film and TV Rights: Yasmin McDonald  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e...


Diamond Dagger Joint Winners Announced!


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 ...


Red Herring

The Red Herring Award From its earliest years, right up to the present day, the CWA has benefited enormously from the hard and selfless work of a wide range of people. It’s always been a fundamental part of the CWA’s ethos that contributions of ...


Gaelic Language Event: Shelagh Chaimbeul Book Release

A summer's day in June 2004. Four teenagers are walking on the Fife Coastal path near St. Andrews, when one of them, Amy, finds an unusual bracelet. 20 years later, a new true crime series begins, 'Fuasgladh Cheist', which investigatesn suspicious...


Daggers Shortlist has been announced

The 2023 shortlists for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagger awards, which honour the very best in the crime-writing genre, have been announced at Crime Fest in Bristol. 2023 marks the CWA’s 70th Platinum Jubilee Year; the Dagg...


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