New Blood for ‘Oscars of the Crime Genre’

 

The crime writing genre’s oldest and most famous award has had an injection of new blood thanks to a new sponsor.

Author Karen Baugh Menuhin is sponsoring its highest accolade, the CWA Diamond Dagger.

One of the UK’s most prominent writers’ societies, the CWA was founded by the prolific author John Creasey in 1953.

The very first CWA awards ceremony was hosted in 1965, with Agatha Christie as the principal guest, and the awards have become known as the ‘Oscars of the crime genre.’ 

The Diamond Dagger was introduced in 1986 and is considered the UK’s most prestigious lifetime achievement award for crime writers. Presented annually, nominations for the award are put forward by CWA members and selected by a vote of past Diamond Dagger winners.

Past recipients include Mick Herron, Lynda La Plante, John Le Carré, PD James, Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Lee Child, Frederick Forsyth, and Michael Connelly.

Karen Baugh Menuhin is a bestselling author whose murder mystery novels have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Cotswolds with her husband, Krov Menuhin – retired explorer, natural history filmmaker, and eldest son of Lord Yehudi Menuhin.

Karen Baugh Menuhin said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of historical fiction, Downton Abbey, and murder mystery. I began writing a few years ago at the age of 60 – which just goes to show it's never too late. I decided to take the independent route and have been extremely fortunate that my books have resonated with fans. In the last few years, I’ve reached number 1 in the USA and sold over a million books. Crime fiction has given me so much pleasure as a reader and a writer, and I’m very proud to be able to give something back. Sponsoring the CWA Diamond Dagger is arguably the most esteemed award in crime fiction and it's a huge honour to be involved in supporting the CWA in this.”

Maxim Jakubowski, chair of the CWA Daggers’ committee, said: “I am delighted that Karen Menuhin has come forward to personally sponsor the CWA Diamond Dagger. Following a handful and more of decades when the award was sponsored in turn by a variety of welcome corporate bodies, it is gratifying to find an author with a belief in our crime & mystery community willing to take over the flame.”

The Daggers celebrate the best in crime writing, and feature 13 Dagger Awards in total, celebrating established careers as well as new talent, with the Emerging Author Dagger, open to unpublished authors. To date, agents and editors have signed over two dozen of these emerging authors.

Nadine Matheson, Chair of the CWA, said: “I’m delighted to have Karen Baugh Menuhin as the sponsor of the CWA Diamond Dagger. The Diamond Dagger is the highest honour in crime writing, celebrating a lifetime of extraordinary commitment, creativity, and contribution to the genre. Karen’s generosity and support ensure that this prestigious award continues to recognise the writers whose work has shaped, inspired, and elevated the world of crime fiction.”

Other sponsors of the Daggers include the family-owned company that looks after the James Bond literary brand, Ian Fleming Publications, with the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for best thriller, Kevin Anderson and Associates who sponsor the Gold Dagger, and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), a not-for profit organisation that supports authors to receive fair payment, sponsor the ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction.

Sponsor of the John Creasey First Novel Dagger is the intellectual property specialists, International Literary Properties (ILP). Also, the author Maxim Jakubowski sponsors the Crime Fiction in Translation award in honour of his wife Dolores, the editorial consultancy Fiction Feedback sponsor the Emerging Author Dagger, and Morgan Witzel sponsors the Historical Dagger in memory of his wife, the writer Dr Marilyn Livingstone.

The CWA’s founding aims were to provide a social network, as well as help crime writers with business matters. Today, the CWA’s determination to promote the genre remains central to its mission.

 

New Blood for CWA Daggers with Awards’ Sponsorship

 

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers – the genre’s oldest and most famous awards - has announced two new sponsors.

The 2025 Dagger Awards sees the editorial consultancy Fiction Feedback sponsor the Emerging Author Dagger, and Morgen Witzel sponsor the Historical Dagger in memory of his wife, Dr Marilyn Livingstone.

One of the UK’s most prominent writers’ societies, the CWA was founded by the prolific author John Creasey in 1953. In 1956, it hosted its first awards ceremony for the best crime book of the year, which went to Winston Graham, best known for Poldark. Agatha Christie was the principal guest.

The prestigious Dagger awards celebrate the best in crime writing, with 13 Dagger Awards in total, including the highest honour in crime writing - the CWA Diamond Dagger - which recognises careers marked by sustained excellence. Recipients over the years include PD James, Ruth Rendell, Colin Dexter, John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin, and Martina Cole.

Fiction Feedback was established in 2008 by editor Dea Parkin, the CWA’s secretary then coordinator for eight years. Her guiding principle is to provide exceptionally helpful services to writers, while properly rewarding her stable of freelance editors for their expertise. As a result, writers return for Fiction Feedback critiques and editing year after year.

Dea said: “The CWA and the wonderful crime writers they support have helped me to pursue the career of my dreams: editing fiction and helping talented writers get published. It’s an honour to give something back by supporting the Emerging Author Dagger as a sponsor, as well as continuing the best role in the world as the CWA’s Competitions Coordinator.”

The Emerging Author Dagger (formerly the Debut Dagger) is an international competition, open to any unpublished author in the world writing in English. The competition has been running for over 20 years, and helps launch careers. To date, agents and editors have signed over two dozen winners and shortlisted Emerging Author competitors.

Morgen Witzel is a writer and lecturer. Together with Marilyn Livingstone, writing under the pen names A.J. MacKenzie and R.L. Graham, they wrote thirteen historical crime novels and thrillers, set in locations as diverse as Europe in the Middle Ages, Romney Marsh during the era of smuggling, the Canadian frontier in the War of 1812 and the last fatal voyage of the Lusitania.

Under their own names, they also wrote two works of historical non-fiction analysing the battles of Crécy and Poitiers. Separately, Morgen teaches ethics and leadership at the University of Exeter Business School and is the author of numerous books and articles on these and other subjects.

Morgan said: “I am sponsoring the Historical Dagger in memory of Dr Marilyn Livingstone, historian, writer, musician, and composer, who passed away in September 2023. Marilyn and I were married for 43 years, during which time we wrote fifteen books together and planned many more. Her death from cancer at the age of 63 was far too soon, and robbed the world of a renaissance woman whose talents had really begun to shine. I hope that this award will help to preserve her memory.”

Other sponsors of the awards include the family-owned company that looks after the James Bond literary brand, Ian Fleming Publications, which backs the CWA’s Ian Fleming Steel Dagger.

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), a not-for profit organisation that supports authors to receive fair payment, sponsor the Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction.

Sponsors of the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger is the intellectual property specialists, International Literary Properties (ILP).

The Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger is sponsored by former CWA chair, Maxim Jakubowski, in honour of his wife Dolores Jakubowski, who was a translator and university lecturer but now suffers from Alzheimer’s.

The CWA is keen to hear from other individuals or organisations with an interest in sponsoring a Dagger.

Heather Fitt, co-ordinator at the CWA, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Dea Parkin and Morgen Witzel for their support for 2025’s Dagger Awards. As a members’ organisation, the support of authors and organisations who work in the genre is crucial. It helps us deliver these prestigious annual awards, which in turn puts new and emerging authors on the map, as well as celebrating established talent.”

The CWA’s founding aims were to provide a social network, as well as help crime writers with business matters. Today, the CWA’s determination to promote the genre remains central to its mission.

Nominations for the 2025’s Daggers are now open.

For more information go to: The CWA Daggers - The Crime Writers’ Association