Crime Writers' Association - Other awards

A British literary association open to all published writers who write about crime - fiction or non-fiction - with the aim of promoting the prestige and appreciation of crime writing. The first meeting was convened by John Creasey in 1953, and past chairs include HRF Keating, PD James, Lady Antonia Fraser, Dick Francis, and Ian Rankin. Annual awards include the categories of Gold Dagger for the best novel published in the English language that year, and the Silver Dagger for the runner-up. The Debut Dagger is awarded to the best new writer previously unpublished.

From 1955 to 1959 it awarded the Crossed Red Herring Award for the best crime novel of the year, after which the award was renamed the Gold Dagger. Now known as The Duncan Lawrie Dagger, the prize carries a prize of £20,000, the largest award for crime fiction in the world. The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger: The dagger and £2000 prize are awarded for the best adventure/thriller novel in the vein of James Bond. The CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction: The dagger and prize of £2000 are awarded every even-numbered year. The CWA New Blood Dagger: Awarded in memory of CWA founder John Creasey, this dagger for first books by previously unpublished writers is sponsored by BBC Audiobooks and carries a prize of £1000. This award was previously known as the John Creasy Memorial Dagger. The CWA Dagger in the Library: This Dagger, sponsored by Random House and worth £1500, is awarded to "the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to readers"; The winner will receive a £500 cash prize plus a night for two at the Waldorf Hilton, London for the prize-giving at the Dagger Awards Dinner on 29 June. All these shortlisted entrants will receive a generous selection of crime novels and professional assessments of their entries, and will also be invited to the Dagger Awards Dinner. Cartier Diamond Dagger: an award for lifetime achievement, awarded in 2006 to the American novelist, Elmore Leonard.

Other awards

The Ellis Peters Historical Award: sponsored by the estate of Ellis Peters and her publishers, Headline and the Time Warner Book Group, carries a prize of £3000. The CWA Short Story Award: this prize of £1500, is sponsored by the membership of the CWA.