The Crime Writers’ Association

Crafting Compelling Coppers – celebrate National Crime Reading Month with the CWA

Join the Crime Writers' Association as we celebrate National Crime Reading Month on Tuesday 15 June at 7.30pm. Authors Jane Bettany (creator of DI Isabel Blood), Liz Mistry (writer of the DI Gus McGuire and Nikki Parekh series), Roz Watkins (DI Meg ...


Emerging Author Dagger Rules

Rules and Submission Guidelines Emerging Author Dagger The Emerging Author Dagger (formerly the Debut Dagger), an international competition for the opening of an adult/YA crime novel and synopsis, is aimed at debut writers. The CWA defines a de...


Capital Crime

Capital Crime, London’s first crime and thriller festival, is coming this September to Covent Garden. With over 30 CWA members appearing, such as Peter James, Antonia Hodgson, Ian Rankin, Dreda Say Mitchell, Mark Edwards, Will Dean and MW Craven, t...


Tips 2017/2 for Debut Dagger Entrants

More tips from readers of Debut Dagger entries. Remember, each tip is only the view of one individual and, as we all know, individuals disagree. All Debut Dagger entries are read and scored by at least two readers. Avoid using too many commas, or...


Finding the Time to Write Your Debut Dagger Entry, by Antony Johnston

Finding time to write is something we all struggle with when we’re starting out. We have other commitments and obligations, things to do, a day job, maybe a family… ‘If only I could just have time to write and not worry about all this other stu...


Useful info

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/CRA author profile and books up to date? Watch our handy video guide to find out. Social medi...


Emerging Authors

Emerging Authors Join the Crime Writers' Association as an Emerging Author - A new type of membership for tomorrow's writers. This category encourages new crime writers in their quest to become published authors by welcoming them into the com...


Kate Ellis headlines at Crediton Literary Festival with a crime focus

A one-day Literary Festival on Saturday 5 June presented online via Zoom. Sixteen authors are speaking on a range of genres throughout the day, with a 10pm crime panel, Victoria Dowd at 1.30pm and Kate Ellis headlining in the afternoon. Tickets are f...


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...


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...


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