CRA Writing Tips: Variety in WritingThe importance of varying your pace when you are writing cannot be stressed too much. To some extent this will happen naturally through your plot, but you should also use your language to control the...
A Cry for the Cosy- Lesley CookmanWe’re a quietish bunch in the UK, us Mystery Writers. There’s me and a few others, some of whom cross into historical crime. But we are largely ignored by the media, rarely reviewed (except on Amazon)...
Felix Francis: The Low DownWriter: Felix Francis Area: North Oxfordshire Day job: Ex-physics teacher but now full time writer, and dog-minder Refusal (Dick Francis Novel) is by Felix Francis. Here, we take a look at both w...
Crime Writing Tips: The Importance of CharacterCrime fiction is plot driven. Yet however clever and intriguing the storyline, no novel succeeds without strong characters. They need to be credible so readers can believe in them. It is also importan...
Saturday Sixers: Six Hours Can Change Your Life11:00 It’s a busy day at work today and probably the first time in a few hours that I haven’t checked my e-mails. I have been working with a wonderful editor from Harlequin who I call ‘the lovely Anna...
Author Mary Bale reflects on 60 minutes that helped realise a life long ambition. At 8 am on 4 January 2012 a storm blew up. It hadn’t been forecast to hit this area. Weeks of rain had loosened roots...
The Daily Grind: Chris CollettWriter: Chris Collett Workspace: I work in our office (ie. box room) overlooking a leafy street on the Bournville Village Trust. While working, I am closely monitored for productivity by our ageing Yo...
Anya Lipska: My top 5 true crime readsAnya Lipska, author of Where the Devil Can’t Go, a crime thriller set among London’s Poles, chooses her top five true crime reads. 1. Shot in the Heart– Mikal Gilmore, 1994 In 1977, Gary Gilmore’s dem...
Saturday Sixers: Jane FinnisPondering the sixty-year anniversary of the Crime Writers’ Association, Jane finds herself wondering: what was I doing in 1953? I’d like to say I don’t recall 1953, it was before my time. But I’d be l...
CRIMEFESTThis weekend sees the movers and the shakers, the hip and the happening and everyone in between descending on Bristol for CRIMEFEST. Billed as “the convention for people who like to read an occa...
Month-Long Crime Wave Predicted To Hit UK in JuneNational Crime Writing Month is Back! The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Director, Lucy Santos, explains why it would be criminal to miss the UK’s fourth annual celebration of crime writing old and...
The CRA loves to give its readers tips on the best crime books, authors and events around. A fantastic event coming up on the 20th May definitely fulfills the criteria of being one of the best events...
THE DELIGHTS OF BEING DIFFERENT – OR – DO YOU WANT ROMANCE WITH THATYou may remember that early in April we offered a great giveaway prize of a, signed, Evonne Wareham novel to two lucky Crime Reader Association members. The giveaway finished at the end of April and w...
Crime fiction and CSI fans pack into first ever CSI GatesheadNearly a hundred and twenty people attended the first ever CSI Gateshead event at Gateshead Library on Thursday 25 April. Inspired by the CSI Portsmouth event, which crime author, Pauline Rowson helps...
CWA Dagger in the Library, 2013 Long list announcedSponsor: Dead Good, The Random House Group The judging panel for this year’s Dagger in the Library Award are pleased to announce the longlist for the 2013 award. Mobeena Khan, who chairs the judges, s...
Crime Writers’ Association Conference 2013Once a year members of the Crime Writers’ Association get together, drink, chat, drink, eat, drink, laugh, drink and learn at our annual conference. This year we were in Lake Windermere over the...
CRA review: Lie Still, Julia HeaberlinLie Still is a potent blast of twenty first century Southern Gothic. Julia Heaberlin brings a poet’s craft and conviction to her storytelling, and the characters which populate her fictional Texan tow...
CRA April Giveaway: Never Coming HomeThe Crime Writers’ Association and Crime Readers’ Association are currently gearing up to National Crime Writing Month, which will start at the end of May, and will see special crime event...
Criminal London giveawayLondon as a city has a dark and criminal past – and a new book provides the definitive guide to the capital’s crimes. From Sherlock Holmes’ Baker Street and Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel...
Giveaway – win cinema ticketsFrom 29 March, the BFI in London will be showing a tribute to John Boorman’s crime classic, Point Blank. CRA readers can now win a free pair of tickets the the film. John Boorman’s American deb...
Joining the CRA is FREE. There are no lengthy forms to fill out and we need nothing but your email. You will receive a regular newsletter but no spam.
