and I had one delivered today…..
I was immediately curious when I found this inside.
Which was full of intriguing things….
And very shiny proof copy of….
Squee! 😀
Category: Blogging
Bloody Scotland Short Story Competition – Closing 27th July
This is what the festival have to say about the competition…..
The Great Agatha Christie Inspires our Short Story Competition
This year marks 125 years since Agatha Christie was born, known world-wide as one of the most well-loved crime writers of all time, one who had a penchant for poison and created unforgettably charismatic sleuths.
We wanted to celebrate her legacy with our short story competition this year- we’re inviting stories inspired by Christie and her writing.
First prize is £1000 and a festival pass to Bloody Scotland 2015.
Submissions of up to 3,000 words of unpublished work are invited from new and unpublished writers from all over the world, but entries must be written in English. Writers are welcome to submit as many stories as they wish, but there is an entry fee of £10 for each story submitted. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Monday 27th July 2015.
A shortlist of five to six stories will be selected by a judging panel comprising of University of Stirling postgraduate students, authors, booksellers and publishers, which will then be made available for an online public vote on Saturday 1st August 2015. This public vote will end on Friday 21st August. Winners will be announced during the Bloody Scotland Festival 2015, 11th – 13th September in Stirling, Scotland
Terms and Conditions & Details of how to enter can be found here
That was the break that was
So I’ve been away for a little while. I’ve been reading a lot, but I’ve also been celebrating a lot too. I recently turned 40 and have spent three weeks, catching up with friends, attending festivals, going on holiday, and attending parties. It’s been fabulous.
It started with CrimeFest where I had an absolutely amazing time as always. There were some interesting panels, some strange and wild conversations, author meet and greets, awards announcements, gala dinners, publisher drinks parties, oh and free books…. but most of that paled into insignificance as over the course of the weekend, I got to go out for lunch with Lee Child. 
I think I forgot most of everything that happened after that, including getting an author to write a guest feature for me! (oh the horror….)
There’s even more fantastic author news lined up, but I’ll save that for closer to the time it’s due to happen as I really don’t want to jinx it.
After CrimeFest, I flew to Las Vegas, I *almost* touched David Copperfield (my huge teenage crush), and I walked. A lot. When they say the hotels are big, you really just cannot comprehend. They are beyond huge. It took 20 minutes to walk from our hotel room through the MGM Grand and Casino to The Strip, but every blister, and night falling into bed with tired and sore feet was worth it.
I’ve been out and about in ‘that London’ with friends to celebrate the actual day, drunk an awful lot of champagne, and avoided writing the reviews and publishing the articles I usually do, because I’ve simply not found the time.
But now the hiatus is over, watch this space, as I catch up with events, competitions, reviews, awards and more.
Nordicana 2015 – Coming Soon…
Moving from its previous February slot, Nordicana is set to return to London in June 2015.
Here’s what Nordic Noir has to say about this years event…
From 6th-7th June 2015, fans with a criminal curiosity for provocative Nordic crime dramas will be flocking to the Troxy theatre in London for the 3rd Nordicana festival. The event promises a plethora of top talent – from internationally famed writers to the brightest stars of film and television that the Northern Lights have to offer. For the first time ever, Nordicana will also be recognising other top European shows influenced by the Nordic style.
The festival is designed to allow audiences the chance to explore the intoxicating realm of Nordic Noir and to get up close and personal, with an interactive collection of cultural activities to choose from. A tantalising range of food, drink, design and culture combines the excitement of a cultural expo with the flair of a film and literary festival.
The evolution of the show continues in 2015 with a brand new team taking the concept into a fresh, revised format. All ticket holders will enjoy their own numbered seat for the day and can relax in-between talks and screenings. We will have a focused set of events on one main stage across the entire weekend.
Head over to NordicNoir.tv to keep up with the latest developments
Coming soon…
Criminal Lines is back for 2015
Literary Agents A M Heath have re-launched their crime-writing prize for 2015, with the winner receiving entry to The Writers’ Workshop Festival of Writing 2015, along with £500 plus the opportunity to discuss their works with two of AM Heath’s agents, Euan Thorneycroft and Oli Munson
Last year AM Heath in association with The Writers’ Workshop launched Criminal Lines, a crime-writing prize open to unagented, debut authors, born or resident in the UK and Ireland. We had lots of brilliant entries – from grisly historical murders and psychological suspense to alien abductions and Alaskan thrillers – and had a great (though difficult!) time reading and choosing the shortlist.
With debut crime writers already hitting the bestseller lists this year, we know the next big thing in crime is out there. Is it you? Only one way to find out – enter your novel for Criminal Lines 2015…
To enter, send the first 15,000 words and a synopsis (max 800 words) of your novel as word documents to: criminallines@amheath.com
You can enter any kind of crime, suspense or thriller novel for the prize, although anything previously submitted to AM Heath is ineligible. Please remember that you must be unagented, debut, and born or resident in the UK and Ireland in order to enter. Your novel doesn’t have to be finished but the synopsis does need to show you have a clear vision for the book. Self-published authors are welcome to enter.
Submissions are open from 17th February 2015, and the deadline is midnight on 4th May.
Further details on prizes, results, and opportunities open to entrants can be found on the AM Heath Criminal Lines website
Open Submissions at Killer Reads
Are you ready for the next step?
Have you got a finished novel that you want to submit for publishing, but don’t know who too or how?
Then this just might be the perfect opportunity for you and you know what they say about when opportunity knocks….
Killer Reads, part of HarperFiction are accepting open submissions until April 19th 2015.
Here’s what Killer Reads has to say……
Open Submission at KillerReads
KillerReads is a new e-first imprint of HarperFiction at HarperCollins.
Mission statement for KillerReads:
We are on the lookout for commercial crime and thrillers ranging from police procedurals, to psychological thrillers, to high-concept thrillers and beyond.
We are looking for fantastic writing that hooks us, making us want to turn the page and find out what happens next; and characters that stay with us long after we finish reading. We want to feel moved, compelled, shocked, and intrigued.
We want to give a voice to exciting emerging talent in the genre that may otherwise go unheard.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to read your novel!
Submission period: 13 March 2015 – 19 April 2015
Full Guidelines on submissions and details of where to send your novel can be found on the Killer Reads website. Your novel must be complete, un-published (and never self-published) and in the Crime Genre.
CWA Dagger in the Library 2015 – Nominations Open
Crime fans everywhere can nominate their favourite authors online and the ten authors with the most votes will make up the longlist. The response received last year was staggering, with 1,384 crime fans voting for 636 different authors, highlighting the extraordinary quality and variety in crime writing.
Unlike most other literary prizes, the Dagger in the Library is awarded not for an individual book but for an author’s entire body of work and is one of six highly prized CWA Dagger Awards awarded to crime writers since 1955. This year’s shortlist and winner will decided by a panel of judges including previous winner Sharon Bolton, CWA Director Lucy Santos and a panel of UK librarians.
Anyone nominating an author (or three) via the Dead Good Books website will also be entered into a prize draw to win £200 worth of crime fiction from Penguin Random House.
Nominations close on Monday 14th April and the 2015 winner will be announced at the CWA Awards Dinner on the 30th June.
Register your nominations on the Dead Good Books website here
Closing Soon – Deal Noir Flash Fiction Competition
Create a crime novel in just 100 words for the chance to win a signed copy of the latest novel from one of the distinguished authors appearing at Deal Noir.
The winner will be announced at the Deal Noir Conference on 28th March 2015.
The Rules
The closing date for entries is 20th March 2015. Only one entry per person. Submissions must be publishable and written in English. The decision of the judges is final.
Submit your entries on the Deal Noir website.
Deal Noir takes place at The Landmark Centre, Deal on 28th March. Tickets are available here.
Newcastle Noir Programme Announced
May is always a busy month for crime fiction fans, and 2015 is no exception, with not one, not two, but THREE festivals for crime fans to pick and choose between. Kicking of the month in fantastic style is Newcastle Noir, returning for its second year, the festival has expanded from one to two days in length, and has this week announced this cracking programme of events.
Saturday 2nd May
10-12noon | Writing Workshop with Christiana Gregoriou, Bea Davenport and Barbara Nadel.
11am-12pm Classic Crime Readings with Kay Hepplewhite
11am-1pm Murderous Newcastle Walking Tour with Pat Lowery, Newcastle City Guide. Begins at the Castle Keep, ends at the Lit & Phil. .
12.30-1.30pm Panel discussion: Northern Landscapes with authors Howard Linskey, Nick Quantrill and David Mark Craig Robertson, chaired by Luca Veste
2.30-3.30pm Panel discussion: Writers in Prison with Mari Hannah, Russ Litten and Alexandra Sokoloff, chaired by Louise Ridley
4.30-5.30pm Panel discussion: Award winning crime-writers Martyn Waites and Mark Billingham in conversation
6.30-7.30pm Panel discussion: From page to screen to page with Cilla and Rolf Börjlind, Erin Kelly and Christopher Brookmyre
8.30pm-9.30pm Panel discussion: Gangsters & Gangs with Philip J. Howard, David McCaffery and Steve Wraith, chaired by Charlotte Bilby
Sunday 3rd May
10-12noon Writing Workshop with Christiana Gregoriou, William Ryan, Bea Davenport and Barbara Nadel.11am-1pm Murderous Newcastle Walking Tour with Pat Lowery, Newcastle City Guide. Begins at the Castle Keep, ends at the Lit & Phil.
11.30am-12.30pm Panel discussion: Crime in Translation with Dominique Mannotti, Roz Schwartz and Ragnar Jónasson, chaired by Jacky Collins
1.30-2.30pm Victorian Villanies with Gail-Nina Anderson
3.30-4.30pm Panel discussion: Legal Eagles with Peter Murphy, Steve Cavanagh and Clare Donoghue, chaired by Ayo Onatade
5.30-6.30pm Panel discussion: Crime Authors/Creative writers with William Ryan, Bea Davenport and Barbara Nadel, chaired by M. J. MacGrath
7.30-8.30pm Panel discussion: New Blood with Eva Dolan, Kati Hiekkapelto and Susan Wilkins, chaired by Sarah Ward
Newcastle Noir is based at Newcastle’s Literary & Philosophical Society (The Lit & Phil) Britain’s largest independent library outside London, and celebrates the best in crime fiction.
Information on tickets and how to book your place can be found at http://www.litandphil.org.uk/events.shtml
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