National Crime Writing Month
May 31st to July 15th 2013
National Crime Writing Month is a unique literary festival throughout the UK which promotes the Crime genre, both fiction and non-fiction. It is a major annual initiative coordinated by the CWA, the Crime Writers' Association, a non-profit group dedicated to the promotion of the genre and to support professional writers, and the Crime Readers' Association with the help of volunteers and in partnership with many organisations in the UK.
A crime writing panel at 2013's CrimeFest: left to right, Pauline Rowson, J. C. Martin, Ann Cleeves (moderating), Kate Ellis and Kerry Wilkinson. Pauline Rowson tells all about it in her blog (and see the CSI Portsmouth giveaway on the CRA blog).
National Crime Writing Month traditionally starts with the Crime Writers' Association annual reception at CrimeFest, the international Crime Fiction Convention held in Bristol, and culminates at our annual Dagger Award Dinner where the CWA will announce the winners of the International, Library, Non-Fiction, Short Story, Debut, and Ellis Peters Daggers, and award the Diamond Dagger to Lee Child.
National Crime Writing Month is an initiative of the Crime Writers' Association. Formerly known as Crime Writing Week, it was launched in 2010 with 50 events up and down the UK. In 2012, due to the popularity of the event, it was increased to a month. It gives readers the opportunity to explore the latest and best crime writing, as well as to discover (or rediscover) many classic writers. There are more than a hundred events taking place all over the country - and more added every day, so keep checking the What's On pages.
In addition, the Crime Readers' Association is co-ordinating an exciting programme of giveaways. The first, which runs throughout the month, comes courtesy of man of the moment Peter James: check the CRA site for details of how to win! (And check back often for new prizes).
Best-selling crime writer Alison Joseph, who took over as Chair of the CWA in April 2013, says:
National Crime Writing Month is a wonderful opportunity for writers and readers to meet each other, and at the same time to support their local libraries too. In these times of threats to public funding, with many libraries facing closure, it's more important than ever that the CWA shows its support for this vital service. Crime Writing Month should be a very exciting and worthwhile event.
"It would be criminal to miss it!", says CWA Director Lucy Santos: read why here.
