CRIMEBITS 2!
VAL MCDERMID to judge Black Spring Press Crime Book Prize!!
The Black Spring Crime Series is delighted to announce that the judge for its second crime-mystery prize will be Val McDermid - world-famous, international best-selling author of multiple series, who has sold over 20 million novels.
The competition – CrimeBits 2 - Black Spring’s Best Opening for a Crime/Thriller Novel Prize - is open to anyone over the age of 18 who wants to write in the English-language and has an interest in crime, thriller or mystery novels.
We are looking for the best 50-250 words of an ‘opening’ for a crime-mystery-thriller novel/story. 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.
Writers can enter as many times as they want.
The submission portal will be here - https://eyewearpublishing.submittable.com/submit.
The contest will be open until early 2025.
All submission info can be found at the blackspringcrimeseries.com website; the entry fee will be £10.
The inaugural competition was judged by Lee Child and the top 100 entries were published in 2024 - Pre-order here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crimebits-Opening-Gambits-Thrillers-Introduced/dp/1915406730/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wTSl-SOO0MMktgMBKXwfHVWQLBWCovItXECl7vjfmG5h1qG5eTdw3TUmCdrD5GIucZDteozjY2MFnGcE4UcBZA.DfP3TdL2CXoozFHmMwVK7c5O8i0QCUxPWwhbYuhrNnI&qid=1719840192&sr=8-5
Rules - Val McDermid will read and judge the best final 50 entries, and leading crime writer Luca Veste will be the sifting judge for the first stage of the competition. The winner will receive £200, a one-off, an hour-long online mentoring session with Luca Veste and be offered a publishing contract if they ever decide to complete the novel.
The Black Spring Crime Series was recently endorsed by, among others, giants of crime Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Child, and Mark Billingham.
For any more information contact Jane Collins at Jane.blackspringpressgroup@gmail.com