Best young crime writers to be honoured

[John Dean]

PRESS RELEASE

Talented young crime writers in the North East of England will be honoured at a ceremony in Darlington on Thursday May 5 at 5.15pm. Six writers have been shortlisted in the North East section of the National Young Crime Writers’ Competition. Organised by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA), which represents the interests of published crime writers, and involving library authorities nationwide, the competition invited writers aged up to 18 to submit crime stories. At the event at Darlington Library in Crown Street on May 5, the shortlisted writers will learn which of them has been selected to go through to the national final, which will be judged by a CWA panel with the winner announced during National Crime Writing Week (13-18 June ). All the regional shortlisted writers will receive certificates and the winner receives a book token. Shortlisted area: Kieron Ferrey, Rebecca Mott and Keira Mason, of Ferryhill, County Durham, Jennifer Robson, of Sacriston, Durham, Kira Wayman, of Spennymoor, County Durham, and Connor Sterling, from Darlington. The competition attracted more than 100 stories from the region, submitted through libraries in the Darlington, Stockton, Sunderland and County Durham areas. The shortlist was selected by library staff working with crime writer John Dean, the regional competition co-ordinator for the CWA, who selected the winners.

John said: “We set out to find the talented writers of the future and we are all impressed by what we found. The entries have included some highly imaginative and well-told stories.”

For information on National Crime Writing Week, and a list of events in your area, visit: www.nationalcrimewritingweek.co.uk