Criminal Lines
A M Heath is launching a new crime writing prize in association with author consultancy The Writers' Workshop.
The prize, called Criminal Lines, is open to unagented, debut authors born or resident in the UK and Ireland. Self-published authors can also enter.
The winner of the prize will be awarded £1,000 and the runner-up will receive entry into the Festival of Writing 2014, a day event to help writers get published being held in London in March. All shortlisted writers will have the chance to meet with AM Heath agents Euan Thorneycroft and Oli Munson to discuss their work. Writers who impress the judges may be offered representation.
Any kind of crime, suspense or thriller novel is eligible, unless it has already been submitted to AM Heath.
The prize will be judged by Thorneycroft and Munson, as well as crime authors Harry Bingham, Mari Hannah and Samantha Hayes.
Writers can enter the competition by sending the first 15,000 words of their novel and a synopsis of a maximum 800 words to criminallines@amheath.com by midnight on 5th May.
A shortlist of five novels will be announced on 2nd June, and the winner will be revealed on 1st July.