The Crime Writers’ Association

12 Criminally Good Hints for Crime Writing by Laraine Stephens

by Laraine Stephens   Start with reading in the crime genre. You'll pick up how different authors approach their craft. You’ll learn to recognise good writing and bad writing. Also, there’s great advice in books and blogs about how to ...


Crime Writers in Residence – at home with Maggie Hamand

The CRA: Please tell us a little about yourself and the books you write. I am a former journalist, a novelist and creative writing lecturer at the University of Hull. I studied biochemistry as a first degree and have a Masters in theology so science...


Kemptown Bookshop

Cathy Hayward of Kemptown Bookshop talks to Elly Griffiths Cathy Hayward is only the third owner of Kemptown Bookshop, Brighton’s oldest independent bookstore. She was a long-time fan of the shop, which has been on St George’s Road since 1976,...


Dagger in the Library

Dagger in the Library  The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established writer of crime fiction or non-fiction who has long been popular with borrowers from libraries. It also rewards authors who have supported libraries an...


Anatomy of a Crime Thriller

Hard on the heels of its most successful Literary Festival ever, in June 2023 the tiny island of Alderney is hosting a unique one-day festival exploring the ‘Anatomy of a Crime Thriller’. Organised by The Alderney Literary Trust and sponsored ...


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...


Coastal Crime With Kate Evans and Glenda Young

Kate Evans and Glenda Young have both chosen the Yorkshire Coast as settings for their crime novels. In conversation with Nick Quantrill, they discuss how the sea and our coastal towns make a perfect backdrop for a thrilling mystery. Kate Evans wr...


Dagger in the Library

Dagger in the Library  The Dagger in the Library 2025 will be open shortly for libraries and borrowers to put forward names for libraries to vote on in the New Year. The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established write...


The Entry Process

The Entry Process There are four kinds of Dagger, differentiated by how they are nominated. See below for an explanation of the different entry processes, and who may nominate for each Dagger. Please do not hesitate to contact the Dagger Liaison Or...


Deal Noir

The Landmark Centre, Deal on Saturday 25 March 2017 The third annual Deal Noir Crime Fiction convention. This entertaining day will feature: Best-selling authors speaking on crime fiction in all its forms from dark psychological thrillers throu...


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