CWA Dagger in the Library – nominations open
It’s that time of year, librarians – get your nominations in for The Crime Writers’ Association prestigious Dagger in the Library before 28th February!
The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established writer of crime fiction or non-fiction who has long been popular with borrowers from libraries. It also rewards authors who have supported libraries and their users through taking part in library events.
The Dagger in the Library is awarded to an author writing in Britain and nominated by libraries in the UK.
Eligible authors must have published at least six crime books (fiction or non-fiction) over at least eight years, must have a UK base and have never won the Diamond Dagger or the Dagger in the Library. Authors who were shortlisted for the Dagger in the Library in one year aren’t eligible again for the next two years.
Library staff and volunteers – up to three people per library – are invited to nominate authors from the list compiled by the Dagger in the Library judges and the CWA Library Champions.
Submit your nominations now or learn more about the Award, including information about past winners like Mark Billingham in 2022.
‘To win any award that is closely associated with libraries will always be an honour,’ said Mark when receiving his prize. ‘There is no writer – certainly no writer worth anything – who is not a reader first and foremost, but not all of them were lucky enough to grow up in a house full of books. I certainly wasn’t. Were it not for the weekly trips with my Mum to our local library in King’s Heath, Birmingham, I would never have become the passionate reader I was and remain. I would not now be a writer, it’s as simple as that. Librarians are superstars and heroes, especially as – in these days of vicious cutbacks to the library system – so many of them are working as volunteers. If those young people currently growing up in houses with no books around are to one day become readers and perhaps writers, it is vital that libraries are supported and cherished. Most importantly, we must all do everything we can to ensure sure that no more of them are closed.’