Get involved in the CWA Dagger Awards!

We reported recently about the new sponsorship deal that The Crime Writers Association have agreed with Specsavers, ITV3, and Cactus TV over at The Rap Sheet. Now that the nominations for the CWA Daggers have been announced - the excitement is building.

Photo from 2008 ITV-3 Thriller Awards (c) 2009 A Karim [Clockwise from top] Mark Billingham, Sharon Canaver, Lee Child, Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Mark Smith, Jeff Deaver & Mike Stotter

Midas PR have provided a ‘red-carpet’ video from the 2008 ITV-3 Crime Thriller Awards to get you in the mood for the event later this month.

I have my ticket, though I am going to be rather jet-lagged as I am only back from Bouchercon Indianapolis the day before the event which is taking place on Wednesday 21st October at Grosvenor House, London. The ceremony will be aired on Tuesday 27th October at 9pm on ITV3.

Here's the Runners & Riders -

CWA Gold Dagger
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
In the Dark by Mark Billingham
Hit and Run by Lawrence Block
A Whispered Name by William Brodrick
The Coroner by MR Hall
Dark Times In The City by Gene Kerrigan
More information on the CWA Gold Dagger here

CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
The Last Child by John Hart
Calumet City by Charlie Newton
Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva
The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer
The Interrogator by Andrew Williams
More information on the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger here.

CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
Sweetsmoke by David Fuller
Bad Catholics by James Green
No Way To Say Goodbye by Rod Madocks
Old City Hall by Robert Rotenberg
Echoes from The Dead by Johan Theorin
The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell
More information on the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger here.

I recall the ITV3 Thriller Awards 2008 [a precursor to this new venture with The CWA] which were also held in Grosvenor House with fondness. Stieg Larsson’s father accepted the International Thriller Award for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. That night I managed to interview both Erland Larsson [Stieg Larsson’s father] who accepted the award posthumously on behalf of his son. I also managed to share a few words with legendary publisher - Christopher MacLehose.

Members of the public have the chance to vote for one of 5 shortlisted authors for the ‘Bestseller Dagger’ - Dick Francis, Alexander McCall Smith, Nicci French, Harlan Coben and Martina Cole – Why not cast your vote here

Shots Competition
Without any favoritism to any of the shortlisted authors - Shots Ezine have organized a competition thanks to Julia Walker of Midas PR to encourage all of you to vote. We have 3 books from one of the shortlisted authors to give away – all you have to do is to put your name and email address in the Comments Box at the end of this blog post mentioning –
[a] Which author you voted for from the 5 shortlisted ‘Bestseller Dagger’
[b] The date you voted [Bestseller Dagger]
[c] Why your selected author is your favourite [in less than 20 words]

The three best responses* to question [c] will be selected Tuesday 22nd October and contacted for a mailing address for their winning book.

Cast your vote here & Good Luck!

*Note entries from UK & Ireland only I'm afraid and the editors decison is final

The Other Award Nominations in contest at The CWA Dagger Awards are –

The Film Dagger 2009 for the best big-screen crime thriller story:

Gran Torino (Warner Bros.)

Quantum of Solace (Sony Pictures)

Changeling (Universal)

Public Enemies (Universal)

State of Play (Universal)

The TV Dagger 2009 - for the best small-screen crime thriller drama:

Wallander (Left Bank Pictures; BBC One)

Red Riding (Channel 4 Films; Channel 4)

Spooks (Kudos; BBC One)

Place of Execution (Coastal Productions; ITV1)

Ashes to Ashes (Kudos; BBC One)

The International TV Dagger - for the best TV crime thriller drama from around the world:

The Wire (HBO; BBC Two)

Dexter (Clyde Phillips Production; FX)

Wallander, Swedish version (Yellow Bird Films; BBC Four)

The Mentalist (Warner Bros.; FIVE)

The Best Actress Dagger - for the female star of a crime thriller drama:

Juliet Stevenson for Place of Execution (Coastal Productions; ITV1)

Keeley Hawes for Ashes to Ashes (Kudos; BBC One)

Hermione Norris for Spooks (Kudos; BBC One)

Emilia Fox for Silent Witness (BBC; BBC One)

The Best Actor Dagger - for the male star of a crime thriller drama:

Dominic West for The Wire (HBO; BBC Two)

Kenneth Branagh for Wallander (Left Bank Pictures; BBC One)

Tom Hardy for The Take (Company; SKY1)

Philip Glenister for Ashes to Ashes (Kudos; BBC One)

Paddy Considine for Red Riding (Channel 4 Films; Channel 4)

I recall the ITV3 Thriller Awards 2008 [which was a precursor to this new venture with The CWA] held in Grosvenor House with fondness as Stieg Larsson’s father accepted the International Thriller Award for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. That night I managed to interview both Erland Larsson [Stieg Larsson’s father] who accepted the award posthumously on behalf of his son. I also managed to share a few words with legendary publisher - Christopher MacLehose.

Is it any wonder that Crime Thrillers have such appeal? Why not go out and buy a few of the books on the shortlist and discover the wonders of the genre. It might take your mind off the pervasive gloom that cloaks our economic reality - Ali Karim