British freelance journalist and author Clare Mackintosh has won the 2016 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award for her thriller I Let You Go (Sphere). That announcement was made this evening during a special opening-night event at the 14th Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England.
Also shortlisted for that prize were Time of Death, by Mark Billingham (Sphere); Career of Evil, by Robert Galbraith (Sphere); Tell No Tales, by Eva Dolan (Harvill Secker); Disclaimer, by Renée Knight (Black Swan); and Rain Dogs, by Adrian McKinty (Serpent’s Tail).
The original, longlist of 18 contenders is here.
Also receiving recognition tonight was Scottish writer Val McDermid, who—as Crime Fiction Lover reports—“becomes the seventh winner of the Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award, following Sara Paretsky, Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, P.D. James, Colin Dexter, and Reginald Hill. Well known for her Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, as well as her fine standalone novels, her books have sold over 10 million copies in more than 30 languages. Her 30th novel, Out of Bounds, is due out in September.”
READ MORE: “Feeling Old and Peculier in Harrogate,” by Craig Sisterson (Crime Watch).
Showing posts with label Val McDermid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Val McDermid. Show all posts
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Peculier Choices, Indeed
Less than two months after an
18-book longlist was broadcast, organizers of the annual Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival (to be held this year in Harrogate, England, July 21-24) have announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2016 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award. They are:
• Time of Death, by Mark Billingham (Sphere)
• Career of Evil, by Robert Galbraith (Sphere)
• Tell No Tales, by Eva Dolan (Harvill Secker)
• Disclaimer, by Renée Knight (Black Swan)
• I Let You Go, by Clare Mackintosh (Sphere)
• Rain Dogs, by Adrian McKinty (Serpent’s Tail)
The winner will be declared during a special ceremony at the festival on its opening night, July 21. That same event will feature the presentation, to Scottish author Val McDermid, of the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. She will join past winners of that commendation: Sara Paretsky, Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, P.D. James, Colin Dexter, and Reginald Hill.
• Time of Death, by Mark Billingham (Sphere)
• Career of Evil, by Robert Galbraith (Sphere)
• Tell No Tales, by Eva Dolan (Harvill Secker)
• Disclaimer, by Renée Knight (Black Swan)
• I Let You Go, by Clare Mackintosh (Sphere)• Rain Dogs, by Adrian McKinty (Serpent’s Tail)
The winner will be declared during a special ceremony at the festival on its opening night, July 21. That same event will feature the presentation, to Scottish author Val McDermid, of the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. She will join past winners of that commendation: Sara Paretsky, Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, P.D. James, Colin Dexter, and Reginald Hill.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
McDermid’s Diamond Jubilation
Britain’s Crime Writers’ Association has announced that Scottish novelist Val McDermid is “the recipient of this year’s prestigious CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, which honours outstanding achievement in the field of crime writing.”
As the CWA explains on its Web site, Diamond Dagger nominees “have to meet two essential criteria: first, their careers must be marked by sustained excellence, and second, they must have made a significant contribution to crime fiction published in the English language, whether originally or in translation. The award is made purely on merit without reference to age, gender, or nationality.”
The 54-year-old McDermid has been publishing novels ever since 1987, when Report for Murder, the first of her books featuring freelance journalist Lindsay Gordon, was released. She has since composed works in two others series, one featuring Manchester private eye Kate Brannigan (Dead Beat, Star Struck), the other starring criminal psychologist Tony Hill and Detective Inspector Carol Jordan (The Wire in the Blood, The Fever in the Bone). McDermid has also penned five standalone thrillers, among them A Place of Execution (1999) and last year’s A Darker Domain. The CWA release announcing her Diamond Dagger win notes that McDermid wrote “the popular ITV series Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green, …[which] ran for six series,” and that a three-part ITV drama was made of A Place of Execution and broadcast in the UK in 2008; that mini-series aired in two parts last November in the States.
In addition to the Diamond Dagger, McDermid has picked up a number of noteworthy commendations, including the CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel, the Anthony Award for Best Novel, the Sherlock Award for Best Crime Novel, the Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel, the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, and the Stonewall Writer of the Year Award.
Responding to today’s news, McDermid said: “I’m delighted to be admitted to this very select group of crime writers. To be awarded the CWA Carter Diamond Dagger is a distinction every writer dreams of. It’s been an amazing 12 months--inducted into the Hall of Fame [at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards ceremony], elected to an Honorary Fellowship at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, and now the Diamond Dagger. But my readers can be reassured about one thing--I’m not going to rest on my laurels. There are still plenty of mountains for me to climb.”
McDermid follows last year’s winner, Andrew Taylor (Bleeding Heart Square), in the succession of Diamond Dagger recipients. Prior winners include Sue Grafton, John Harvey, Elmore Leonard, Ian Rankin, and Lawrence Block. The date and circumstances under which McDermid will receive her Dagger are “yet to be confirmed.”
READ MORE: “Val McDermid ‘Gobsmacked’ by Diamond Dagger Award,” by Michelle Pauli (The Guardian); “Val McDermid,” by Martin Edwards (Do You Write Under Your Own Name?); “The CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award 2010 Goes to ... Val McDermid: A Report and Photos,” by Ayo Onatade and Mike Stotter (Shots).
As the CWA explains on its Web site, Diamond Dagger nominees “have to meet two essential criteria: first, their careers must be marked by sustained excellence, and second, they must have made a significant contribution to crime fiction published in the English language, whether originally or in translation. The award is made purely on merit without reference to age, gender, or nationality.”
The 54-year-old McDermid has been publishing novels ever since 1987, when Report for Murder, the first of her books featuring freelance journalist Lindsay Gordon, was released. She has since composed works in two others series, one featuring Manchester private eye Kate Brannigan (Dead Beat, Star Struck), the other starring criminal psychologist Tony Hill and Detective Inspector Carol Jordan (The Wire in the Blood, The Fever in the Bone). McDermid has also penned five standalone thrillers, among them A Place of Execution (1999) and last year’s A Darker Domain. The CWA release announcing her Diamond Dagger win notes that McDermid wrote “the popular ITV series Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green, …[which] ran for six series,” and that a three-part ITV drama was made of A Place of Execution and broadcast in the UK in 2008; that mini-series aired in two parts last November in the States.
In addition to the Diamond Dagger, McDermid has picked up a number of noteworthy commendations, including the CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel, the Anthony Award for Best Novel, the Sherlock Award for Best Crime Novel, the Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel, the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, and the Stonewall Writer of the Year Award.
Responding to today’s news, McDermid said: “I’m delighted to be admitted to this very select group of crime writers. To be awarded the CWA Carter Diamond Dagger is a distinction every writer dreams of. It’s been an amazing 12 months--inducted into the Hall of Fame [at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards ceremony], elected to an Honorary Fellowship at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, and now the Diamond Dagger. But my readers can be reassured about one thing--I’m not going to rest on my laurels. There are still plenty of mountains for me to climb.”
McDermid follows last year’s winner, Andrew Taylor (Bleeding Heart Square), in the succession of Diamond Dagger recipients. Prior winners include Sue Grafton, John Harvey, Elmore Leonard, Ian Rankin, and Lawrence Block. The date and circumstances under which McDermid will receive her Dagger are “yet to be confirmed.”
READ MORE: “Val McDermid ‘Gobsmacked’ by Diamond Dagger Award,” by Michelle Pauli (The Guardian); “Val McDermid,” by Martin Edwards (Do You Write Under Your Own Name?); “The CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award 2010 Goes to ... Val McDermid: A Report and Photos,” by Ayo Onatade and Mike Stotter (Shots).
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Landing McDermid
Whoever said that things stay the same in the crime-fiction genre, it certainly wasn’t me. As I was packing this morning for a short trip to London, where I’m to join some reviewer colleagues at the HarperCollins Crime Dinner, I received a press release from Little, Brown UK. No doubt this news will be brought up over wine tonight:
International bestseller Val McDermid [A Darker Domain] is moving from HarperCollins to Little, Brown for her UK publishing. Agent Jane Gregory has brokered a two-book deal with Sphere Publisher, David Shelley, for UK and Commonwealth rights, the first of which will be a new Tony Hill novel for publication in 2009.Soon after that release arrived, I received McDermid’s e-mail letter to her readers, in which she highlights the reasons for this change in publishers and recounts her recent travels in the United States:
Val McDermid commented: ‘I’m very excited at the prospect of working with David Shelley and the Little, Brown team. Writers thrive on change and challenge, and I’m looking forward to being invigorated by my new publishing environment.’
Shelley said: ‘I have long been a passionate fan of Val’s. I think she is an incredibly brave and fascinating writer who is writing at the peak of her powers. She has many supporters at Little, Brown, and we are all very much looking forward to working with her and lifting her sales to the next level.’
Gregory said: ‘Val’s writing is going from strength to strength and we feel that Little Brown will make her the huge bestseller she deserves to be.’
Little, Brown CEO and Publisher Ursula Mackenzie said: ‘I could not be more thrilled. Val McDermid is a superb writer and as a company we have huge plans for her.’
McDermid’s most recent novel is the critically acclaimed standalone, A Darker Domain, and her latest book to be adapted for TV is A Place of Execution, which was broadcast last month on ITV1.
I travelled to Baltimore in October for Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention. I’ve been to 11 of these now, but this was one of the best. A lot of that was due to the venue, which was perfectly suited to both the formal and informal aspects of the convention. By which I mean that the bar was big enough and well-enough staffed. I took part in four panels, all of which were enormous fun. I particularly enjoyed the Pub Quiz on the Saturday evening, when, ably supported by Miles Alfrey and Martyn Waites, our team came a very close second. Obviously, we were robbed.Read more about McDermid’s switch of publishers here. And incidentally, she was the late Elaine Flinn’s last guest at her Evil-E blog. Click here to read the piece.
After Bouchercon, I travelled to St. Paul in Minnesota to take part in the annual gala fundraiser for the Friends of the St. Paul Library. This was an extraordinary event. 750 people, a sit-down three-course dinner, four writers talking for 15 minutes each, and phenomenal book sales. I signed for two hours. I don’t think I’ve ever taken part in so well-organised an event. As if that wasn’t enough there was a fantastic view of the Mississippi from my bedroom window. And they plied me with gorgeous organic apples. I was lucky enough to have some time to spend with my good friends and fellow writers Ellen Hart and R.D. Zimmerman, who reminded me why the Midwest has such a reputation for hospitality.
From St. Paul, I flew to New York to take part in a round-table discussion to celebrate the U.S. publication of Stieg Larsson’s remarkable debut novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Larsson was a campaigning journalist who tragically died after completing his third crime novel. His first novel had been published in Sweden before his death, but he didn’t live to see the phenomenal success it has become throughout Europe and now in the U.S. I love the book, and I was very touched to be invited to help launch it in America.
Finally, I travelled to Provincetown [Massachusetts] to take part in the annual Women’s Week activities. I joined several of my fellow authors from my wife Kelly’s publishing house, Bywater Books, in a series of events comprising Bywater Books Celebration of Reading. Jill Malone, Mari SanGiovani, Marianne K. Martin, Cynn Chadwick and I hosted an afternoon of panel discussions culminating in a caucus-style vote for the Best Lesbian Read of the 20th Century. Online votes over the summer had decided the shortlist, and the final choice was Katherine V. Forrest’s Curious Wine, with Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit as the close runner-up.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Evidently Worth the Torment
Scottish crime writer Val McDermid has won the 2006 Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for The Torment of Others 
(2004), her fourth novel to feature criminal psychologist Dr. Tony Hill and his police colleague, Detective Chief Inspector Carol Jordan. The announcement was made last night during the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival.
In association with her victory, McDermid received £3,000 and a handmade oak beer cask (fortunately, not a full-size specimen).
The Torment of Others was one of five books shortlisted for this year’s commendation. The other nominees were: Strange Blood, by Lindsay Ashford; One Last Breath, by Stephen Booth; The Coffin Trail, by Martin Edwards; The Various Haunts of Men, by Susan Hill; and Fleshmarket Close, by Ian Rankin. Votes for the winner were cast online by interested readers.
(2004), her fourth novel to feature criminal psychologist Dr. Tony Hill and his police colleague, Detective Chief Inspector Carol Jordan. The announcement was made last night during the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival.In association with her victory, McDermid received £3,000 and a handmade oak beer cask (fortunately, not a full-size specimen).
The Torment of Others was one of five books shortlisted for this year’s commendation. The other nominees were: Strange Blood, by Lindsay Ashford; One Last Breath, by Stephen Booth; The Coffin Trail, by Martin Edwards; The Various Haunts of Men, by Susan Hill; and Fleshmarket Close, by Ian Rankin. Votes for the winner were cast online by interested readers.
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