The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) marks its 70^th Jubilee year in 2023 with a series of events, including an exhibition of memorabilia from its archives.

Official archivist of the CWA, Martin Edwards, said the anniversary is a, “cause for celebration, not just among its members, but among crime genre fans everywhere.”

The exhibition will be part of the Alibis in the Archives crime writing weekend which runs 9—11 June at Gladstone’s Library in Wales, as well as other special events linked to National Crime Reading Month in June. There will also be a special Jubilee reception at the Mansion House, York, as part of the CWA’s conference.

One of the UK’s most prominent writers’ societies, the CWA was founded by the prolific author John Creasey, who wrote over 600 books under various pseudonyms.

The first CWA meeting was on 5 November 1953 at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall.  The invite from Creasey for the very first meeting, read: ‘The threatened meeting of mystery writers planned for the afternoon of Thursday, November 5^th, has been arranged to take place at the  NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB, WHITEHALL PLACE, LONDON, S.W.1 …at 2.45 for 3 p.m. (It cannot go on much longer than about 5.15 p.m. as the room is needed for politics) On arrival at the Club ask for (a) Creasey and if you get a blank stare, (b) the Oak Room…IF YOU DON’T WANT AFTERNOON TEA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I SHOULD HATE TO ORDER IT AND SEE IT WASTED.’

Its founding aims were to provide a social network as well as help crime writers with business matters. In Creasey’s words: ‘to give reasonable hope that both the prestige and the fortunes of crime writers generally should be improved.’

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 oldest awards in the genre, the CWA Daggers feature 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, Martina Cole, Val McDermid, and Walter Mosley.

Today, the CWA’s determination to promote the genre remains central to its mission, seen by the success of more recent initiatives including, starting in 1999, the Debut Dagger, a competition for uncontracted writers, and National Crime Reading Month (held annually in June), both of which help to connect crime writers and readers, as well as supporting libraries and bookshops.

Maxim Jakubowski, CWA Chair, said: “As my two-year term as Chair of the CWA winds down to an end, I feel I can’t leave the scene of the crime on a better occasion than the celebration of an impressive 70 years of so many activities indefatigably supporting the crime writing community and promoting our beloved genre. We have achieved so much and it makes me very proud that we are toasting such a jubilee in 2023. I raise the tip of my fictional fedora to another brilliant 70 years, which I’m sure my successors will make as memorable.”

Vaseem Khan, Vice-Chair of the CWA, said: “Longevity in any organisation is a sign that something is going right. The CWA’s star has shone over British crime writing for seven decades, never more brightly than now. Over the years, the CWA has welcomed, championed, and recognised the greatest writers of the genre, whilst nurturing future stars. Today, the CWA continues to evolve, just as the genre has evolved to become the most popular and most inclusive in publishing. Next stop…the CWA centenary!”

About the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA)

The aim of the CWA is to support, promote and celebrate this most durable, adaptable, and successful of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and the authors who write within it. It supports author members, plus literary agents, publishers, bloggers and editors with a monthly magazine; a digital monthly newsletter from sister organisation the Crime Readers’ Association, showcasing CWA authors’ books and events that goes to circa 12,000 subscribers; and Case Files, a bimonthly ezine highlighting new books by CWA members. www.thecra.co.uk  The CWA supports as yet unpublished writers with a bespoke group, The Debuts, many of whom enter the Debut Dagger competition and the Margery Allingham Short Mystery competition.

The CWA run an annual conference and hold chapter meetings throughout the UK, so members can access face-to-face networking and socialising.  It also runs National Crime Reading Month in June: www.crimereading.com  The CWA supports libraries and booksellers, with three Library Champions and a Booksellers Champion. It has links with various festivals and other writers’ organisations such as the Society of Authors.

CWA website, Facebook, Twitter #CWADaggers and YouTube.

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I adored Odysea’s range of meze. It’s healthy and delicious. Enjoy the flavours of the Mediterranean, courtesy of Odysea’s new range of meze. Forget uninspiring salads, transport yourself to sunny Greece with the pop of a jar and feast on Odysea’s diverse range of colourful dips, meze and olives.

With the choice of 11 new naturally vegan products that can be found at your local Sainsbury’s store, mix and match your favourites for a quick and simple plant-based meal, packed full of big flavours to treat your tastebuds.

Dip with a difference and spice up your meze board with Odysea’s vegan-friendly Harissa Houmous and Spicy Ajvar. The silky smooth ambient Houmous and smoky roasted red pepper and aubergine Ajvar add a warming addition that’s welcome at January mealtimes. Ready-to-eat and wonderfully versatile, slather on toast, dip with crunchy crudités or crispy pitas, or elevate your salads, sandwiches, roasted veg and more.

For added bite to your vegan spread, break out the Baked Gigantes Beans, which are cooked slowly in a full-flavoured tomato sauce with sprinklings of Mediterranean herbs and extra virgin olive oil. These beans, alongside Odysea’s Chickpeas in Tomato Sauce, can be enjoyed hot or cold as a starter, are an ideal base for stews and traybakes and are the willing co-stars in a plant-based Mediterranean meze feast.

Start your meal with fresh and vibrant traditional Greek appetisers and opt for Odysea’s Aubergine Imam or Stuffed Vine Leaves. The Imam features roasted aubergine in a rich tomatoey sauce, flavoured with onions, garlic, herbs and spices, while the Stuffed Vine Leaves, or dolmades, are filled with a traditional rice and onion filling, studded with raisins and pine nuts. Both of these new meze will beautifully enhance any meal.

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These new naturally vegan products join Odysea’s extensive range of Greek and Mediterranean meze. Drawing on Odysea’s meticulous focus on provenance, quality and authenticity, each jar unlocks an irresistible taste of the Med.

NEW ANTIPASTI:

Odysea Spicy Ajvar £2.75
Odysea Harissa Houmous £2.75
Odysea Aubergine Imam £2.80
Odysea Chickpeas in Tomato Sauce £2.80
Odysea Stuffed Vine Leaves (new easy-open jar) £2.80
Odysea Baked Gigantes Beans (new easy-open jar) £2.80 

NEW OLIVES

Odysea Gherkin Stuffed Olives £2.80
Odysea Double Stuffed Red Pepper & Almond Olives £2.80
Odysea Piri Piri Stuffed Gordal Olives £2.80
Odysea Etna Nocellara Pitted Olives with Lime and Chilli £2.80
Odysea Big Gordal Pitted Olives £2.80

About Odysea: Founded in 1991, having started as a stall on Portobello Road Market, Odysea is a fine food producer, specialising in sourcing products from Greece and the Mediterranean.

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Moorland Mist by Gwen Mirkwood The first of the Sinclair Family Saga

Scottish Highlands, 1895. On the eve of Emma’s birthday, she is sent to work on the edge of the moors under the critical eye of the Sinclair family matriarch.  Love begins to blossom between Emma and their youngest son, William. But when William is swiftly sent away, the two must find a way back to each other — and their newborn son. Find out how the story evolves over the next four books.

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Masquerade on the Riviera by Evonne Wareham   

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Renowned Egyptologist Dr Elliott Elwood’s weekend away to Torquay for a bizarre bidding war ends up involving far more than afternoon tea and historical chit chat.
Cunning thievery and clever games culminate in a glitzy but perilous masked ball

This week Joffe Books has announced that CEO Jasper Joffe has acquired Choc Lit from previous owner Lyn Vernham.

Jasper Joffe, chief executive officer of independent publisher Joffe Books, has acquired Choc Lit from previous owner Lyn Vernham.
Founded in 2009, Choc Lit is an independent publisher of romance and women’s fiction. Joffe will be taking over Choc Lit’s list of around 250 titles, and relaunching the books specifically for the digital market, with a focus on marketing and design.

Joffe said: “We love Choc Lit and are delighted to acquire the company from Lyn Vernham. Lyn has built one of the most outstanding publishers of women’s fiction and romance in the UK. It’s an honour to take forward this brilliant publisher with its unique tasting panel of readers who help select the books to publish.

“We aim to build on the list’s exceptional quality and to find new opportunities to reach even more readers. It’s a great fit for our future as an all-genres commercial publisher.”

Vernham added: “I’m delighted to see my baby go to such a good home in Joffe Books. It has been almost 14 years of absolute fun and an honour to help so many authors. We set out to create a romance brand that would support debut and lesser known authors on the road to publication.

“We have launched over 60 authors, two-thirds of which were debuts. Some have gone on to be very successful in our genre. I’m very proud of them all and what the team has achieved. I wish Jasper every success as they continue to develop the brand.”

In 2019, Joffe Books acquired the Robert Hale backlist from Crowood Press, reissuing authors including Roger Silverwood, Frances Lloyd, David Hodges and Bill Kitson. The publisher went on to acquire Ostara Publishing in 2022, reissuing and rebranding crime writers as D. M. Greenwood, V. C. Clinton-Baddeley, Frank McAuliffe and Ian Morson. 

Quite a story, eh? Fantastic.

Read the announcement on the Bookseller here: www.thebookseller.com/news/joffe-acquires-choc-lit-f….

Information on all Joffe Books, including this week’s newbies. HERE

Well, Marion advertised for a pendulum walk clock and now CCA have two. ‘What next?’ she asks. Margaret hardly dares to think.  But here we go, with lots and lots…

The team have had the honour of being visited by Geoff Millington, the school teacher who initiated the original mural, painted by the children of the then Biddick Primary School in 1983. Geoff (shown with the CCA print, hanging in the Brady Square Room) has promised to write the story of the mural in more detail and the CCA cannot wait. Special thanks go to Brian Mason for without him this print would never have happened, Brian we have recreated history. Margaret had a wonderful art teacher, a Miss Richardson, who always told the class, ‘Look up, everyone, when out. See what’s above, not what’s below the feet.’ Instructions suitable for life really. She meant to study the roofs, the angles, the shadows. Again, much like life. 

Arthur is getting on with the decorating, he has a big job to tackle this week but he assures Marion he can manage, he is such a perfectionist which is fantastic. Marion had a meeting  with the Surveyor and contractor to discuss jobs outstanding and there is now  a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, a bit dim, but there all the same. The CCA  now have Simon, site Manager from SCC, overseeing the outstanding work which is enormously helpful, and  someone with whom to liaise.

CPR/ Defibrillator training was organised for the volunteers on Tuesday with the lovely Nev. As Marion said, ‘That will be another Ology they have.’

The Council have collected the two very large planters from the front of the building, so now there are parking spaces and soon there will be some hanging baskets for the front.

The lovely Julie Milne from Equans came to do the weekly meeting and said that  Stu and Steve would be popping in for a chat. They just could not believe the progress since their last visit and as usual they asked what they could do to help. ‘Thank you, Stu, I am sure we can think of something to keep you busy. We all love Equans they are always there to lend a hand in the community,’ says Marion.

The visit by Eileen from Sharp Advice Services  went down really well and all were enlightened as to the wonderful service they provide; free confidential, independent advice and help and support on a multitude of issues.The lovely Liam  installed sockets in the corridor so  table lamps can be strategically placed in the entrance to enhance the ambience and make it welcoming.  Then Ross the joiner dropped in to box some pipes, after Mick, from Equans, delivered the materials. Such teamwork!

Julie, Community Opportunities, who has been using our centre, and feels she is now an honorary member of the “Brady Bunch” dropped off a gift. Well, you are even more a member of the ‘Brady Bunch’ now, pet. 

But heavens, the gifts kept on coming. Staff from Equans attended the last Coffee morning before Easter and they didn’t come empty handed. They brought an array of chocolate eggs for the community and flowers for Marion, so much excitement.

More gifts, this time from Brady Square’s  very own Edith Bradley, who had brought daffodils for everyone, painstakingly wrapping each bunch and tying them with gold ribbon. What a marvellous and thoughtful thing to do.

Thelma won the food hamper and was cock-a hoop, poor Jen shouted she was one number off again, maybe next time it will be her turn. Red Shoes Bob entertained  with his stand-up Bingo. The food was delicious and the Easter Chocolate cake from Di’s Diner was simply scrumptious.

The floral arranging class has been a huge succes. Clearly Tina is a wonderful teacher and the ladies were so thrilled with the floral pieces they created – just look at these springlike offerings – quite splendid. They say they are very much looking forward to the next class.

As Easter approaches, a time of hope Margaret always feels, all at Columbia Community Association would like to wish everyone a very peaceful Palm Sunday. Frost Magazine echoes this sentiment, and thanks you all for allowing them to accompany the CCA on this wonderful community journey. 

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

 CrimeFest, which is sponsored by Specsavers, has revealed its full line up for the four-day celebration of the UK’s most popular genre, hosted at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 May, 2023.

Alongside guests – stalwarts of the genre – Mark Billingham and Elly Griffiths – around 50 panels will explore everything from crime fiction set during World War Two, to the crime genre in the digital age.   Panellists include Andrew Child, co-author of the Jack Reacher novels, adapted as Reacher by Amazon Prime, author of the award-winning crime series set in India, Vaseem Khan, and Robert Thorogood, the creator behind the smash-hit BBC One series, Death in Paradise.

As Nielson book data report that sales of crime fiction in 2022 are up 19% pre-pandemic levels, one panel explores today’s ‘New Golden Age’ with the leading authority of the original Golden Age of crime fiction, Martin Edwards, alongside Janice Hallett, best known for her phenomenally successful debut, The Appeal. The panel is chaired by Agatha Christie’s publisher, David Brawn.   Nielson book data also reported an “increased appetite” in ‘cosy crime’ in 2022 book sales. The panel, ‘Keeping it Cosy’ features the former journalist turned mystery writer, Fiona Veitch Smith, and author of the Lady Hardcastle mysteries, T E Kinsey.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the publication of Casino Royale, the first James Bond novel, this year’s Ghost of Honour commemorates Ian Fleming. The panel includes the first female 007 author, Kim Sherwood. She will be joined by Corinne Turner, managing director of Ian Fleming Publications, with panel moderator, Simon Brett.   Also attending from Colorado is the winner of last year’s CrimeFest Specsavers Debut Crime Novel award with Winter Counts, David Heska Wanbli Weiden. The Professor of Native American Studies and Political Science at Metropolitan State University of Denver is an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota nation. He was named by the New York Times as one of “the most critically acclaimed young novelists working now.”

The list goes on, and on, and on again.

Director and co-founder of CrimeFest, Adrian Muller, said: “The fact that sales of the genre continue to rise, and it now dominates our TV screens shows the remarkable appeal of crime fiction. The line-up this year illustrates the wealth and breadth of topics behind a genre that not only offers escapism and entertainment, but can also give insights and comment on pressing issues in society.”

Donna Moore, co-founder of CrimeFest, added: “CrimeFest is a chance for readers and authors to mingle in a friendly, accessible, and fun setting. We hope people will come along, and be inspired.

For those who think it’s a crime to miss Eurovision, CrimeFest will also be screening the Eurovision Final Song Contest on Saturday 13 May in the convention hotel.

CrimeFest runs at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel from 11-14 May, 2023. For details and to book, go to: https://www.crimefest.com/