VAL MCDERMID JUDGES THE 2ND
"CRIMEBITS" PRIZE FOR BEST OPENING TO A
CRIME BOOK
Ends on Thu, Mar 13, 2025 11:59 PM
MAKE YOUR FIRST PAGE COUNT...
Building on the successful book CRIMEBITS selected and
introduced and judged by LEE CHILD, published as a paperback
in the UK and USA November 1, 2024... here comes the sequel!
The competition is open to anyone 18 or older anywhere in the
world who wants to write in the English-language and has an
interest in crime, thriller or mystery novels. Writers can enter as
many times as they want.
We are looking for the best 50-250 words of an ‘opening’ for a
crime-mystery-thriller novel. The work must be never-before-
published (including online), original to the author, and ideally
written for this prize. It need not be connected to a completed
book. Indeed, we very much hope the prize encourages people
to start a novel, with this first page – and maybe go on to
complete it.
All submission info can also be found at the
blackspringcrimeseries.com website; the entry fee is now $10 for
late-birds.
Val McDermid - beloved best-selling Scottish "Tartan Noir"
crime author and CWA Diamond Dagger winner - will read and
judge the best final 100 entries, and leading crime writer Luca
Veste will be the sifting judge for the first stage of the
competition.
The winner will be announced in 2025, receive £200, a one-off,
hour-long online mentoring session with Luca Veste and be
offered a publishing contract if they ever decide to complete the
novel.
All longlisted, shortlisted, and winning entrants agree to let their
submitted work, biography and photo be included in any
publicity organised by the press, including granting a license for
the work to appear in an anthology of crime opening gambits
that may be created, in exchange for a free copy of the work;
copyright and ownership of the characters and situations
remains with the entrants.
The Black Spring Crime Series was recently endorsed by, among
others, giants of crime Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Lee Child, and
Mark Billingham.
This contest series and format is copyright BSPG; and is a way to
fundraise to support a small press facing challenging times in the
UK cost of living crisis.
Note that immediate family members of those on the BSPG
team, and the team themselves, are ineligible to enter. The
contest may be cancelled at the discretion of the organisers for
any reason at any time; all monies will be refunded. Should any
of the judges be unavailable due to force majeure other judges
of equal calibre will step in.
We use Submittable to accept and review
"CRIMEBITS" PRIZE FOR BEST OPENING TO A
CRIME BOOK
Ends on Thu, Mar 13, 2025 11:59 PM
MAKE YOUR FIRST PAGE COUNT...
Building on the successful book CRIMEBITS selected and
introduced and judged by LEE CHILD, published as a paperback
in the UK and USA November 1, 2024... here comes the sequel!
The competition is open to anyone 18 or older anywhere in the
world who wants to write in the English-language and has an
interest in crime, thriller or mystery novels. Writers can enter as
many times as they want.
We are looking for the best 50-250 words of an ‘opening’ for a
crime-mystery-thriller novel. The work must be never-before-
published (including online), original to the author, and ideally
written for this prize. It need not be connected to a completed
book. Indeed, we very much hope the prize encourages people
to start a novel, with this first page – and maybe go on to
complete it.
All submission info can also be found at the
blackspringcrimeseries.com website; the entry fee is now $10 for
late-birds.
Val McDermid - beloved best-selling Scottish "Tartan Noir"
crime author and CWA Diamond Dagger winner - will read and
judge the best final 100 entries, and leading crime writer Luca
Veste will be the sifting judge for the first stage of the
competition.
The winner will be announced in 2025, receive £200, a one-off,
hour-long online mentoring session with Luca Veste and be
offered a publishing contract if they ever decide to complete the
novel.
All longlisted, shortlisted, and winning entrants agree to let their
submitted work, biography and photo be included in any
publicity organised by the press, including granting a license for
the work to appear in an anthology of crime opening gambits
that may be created, in exchange for a free copy of the work;
copyright and ownership of the characters and situations
remains with the entrants.
The Black Spring Crime Series was recently endorsed by, among
others, giants of crime Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Lee Child, and
Mark Billingham.
This contest series and format is copyright BSPG; and is a way to
fundraise to support a small press facing challenging times in the
UK cost of living crisis.
Note that immediate family members of those on the BSPG
team, and the team themselves, are ineligible to enter. The
contest may be cancelled at the discretion of the organisers for
any reason at any time; all monies will be refunded. Should any
of the judges be unavailable due to force majeure other judges
of equal calibre will step in.
We use Submittable to accept and review
