SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE 2024 CRIMEFEST AWARDS:
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
– eDUNNIT AWARD
for best 2023 crime ebook
– THE H.R.F. KEATING AWARD
for best 2023 biography or critical book related to crime fiction
– LAST LAUGH AWARD
for best 2023 humorous crime novel
– SOUNDS OF CRIME AWARD
for best 2023 unabridged crime audiobook
– SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD
for best 2023 crime novel by a previously unpublished author
– BEST CRIME NOVEL FOR CHILDREN
for best 2023 crime novel for children, ages 8-12
– BEST CRIME NOVEL FOR YOUNG ADULTS
for best 2023 crime novel for young adults, ages 12-16
eDUNNIT AWARD
Eligible are any crime ebooks such as historical, humour, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc, commercially published in both hardcopy and epub for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2023. (Hybrid authors—now self-published but previously commercially/traditionally published—should contact CrimeFest about eligibility.)
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The winning author receives a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, as well as a complimentary pass and panel appearance at the next CrimeFest. The award for best crime fiction ebook of 2023 will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024.
To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details of every eligible title. (There is no cost attached to submitting titles.)
A list of entries and their details (see example below) should be submitted by email to ebook@crimefest.com, followed by individually emailed copies of the epub retail version of the ebook. Alternatively download invitations may be sent to a longlist judge (email address to be supplied on request). Downloaded copies should be permanently available (i.e. not have a time-limited expiration date). Another option is for a judge’s copy to be purchased by CrimeFest from kobo.com or waterstones.com with an invoice for the cost being sent to the publisher. Details of the entries should be listed in an Excel file attached to the email. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five hardback or paperback copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.
THE H.R.F. KEATING AWARD
Eligible are any biographies or critical books related to crime fiction commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2023.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The winning author receives a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, as well as a complimentary pass and panel appearance at the next CrimeFest.
The award for best biography or critical book related to crime fiction of 2023 will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024.
To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details of every eligible title. (There is no cost attached to submitting titles.)
A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to keating@crimefest.com. Details of the entries should be listed in an Excel file attached to the email. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.
Eligible are any humorous crime novels such as historical, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc, commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2023.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The winning author receives a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, as well as a complimentary pass and panel appearance at the next CrimeFest.
The award for best humorous crime novel of 2023 will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024.
To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details of every eligible title. (There is no cost attached to submitting titles.)
A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to laugh@crimefest.com. Details of the entries should be listed in an Excel file attached to the email. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.
Due to the withdrawal of the sponsor, this award was not presented last year. However, we are in negotiations with a new sponsor and, if successful, the award will be presented again in 2024.
Eligible are any unabridged crime audiobooks such as historical, humour, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc, first published in 2023 in the UK in both print and unabridged audio formats. The audiobook must also be available for download from Audible UK or Kobo UK.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The winners receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, with the author also receiving a complimentary pass and panel appearance at the next CrimeFest.
The awards for unabridged crime audiobook of 2022 will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024.
To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details of every eligible title. (There is no cost attached to submitting titles.)
A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to audio@crimefest.com. Details of the entries should be listed in an Excel attachment. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes. (If the publisher only offers digital copies for sale, but commercial/retail CDs or MP3s were produced in collaboration with a third-party production company, then these must be provided instead. Should the commercial/retail CDs or MP3s not be available, then print versions are required.)
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.
SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD
Eligible are any crime novels such as historical, humour, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc, by a previously unpublished author in the field of fiction (previous non-fiction titles are acceptable), commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2023.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The award for Best First Crime Novel of 2023 will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024.
The winning author receives a £1,000 prize (courtesy of headline sponsor Specsavers), a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, and a complimentary pass and panel appearance at the next CrimeFest.
To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details of every eligible title. (There is no cost attached to submitting titles.)
A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to specsavers@crimefest.com. Details of the entries should be listed an Excel file attached to the email. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.
Eligible are any children’s crime novels such as historical, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc, commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2023. The age group for this award is 8-12 years.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The winning author receives a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award.
The award for Best Crime Novel for Children will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024. To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details for every eligible title.
There is no cost attached to submitting titles but six copies of every title must be provided as part of the submission process.
All books provided as part of the submission process will be distributed among schools in the UK.
For submitted titles to be eligible, the six print copies of each title must be received by 20 January 2024. Please send to: CrimeFest, BASEMENT FLAT, 6 Rodney Place, Bristol BS8 4HY.
A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to childfiction@crimefest.com. Details of the entries should be listed in an Excel file attached to the email. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.
BEST CRIME NOVEL FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Eligible are any young adult crime novels such as historical, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc, commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2023. The age group for this award is 12-16 years.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023.
The winning author receives a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award.
The award Best Crime Novel for Young Adults will be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Awards Dinner on 11 May, 2024.
To ensure that we have all relevant entries for consideration, we request that publishers submit details for every eligible title.
There is no cost attached to submitting titles but six copies of every title must be provided as part of the submission process.
All books provided as part of the submission process will be distributed among schools in the UK.
For submitted titles to be eligible, the six print copies of each title must be received by 20 January 2024. Please send to: CrimeFest, BASEMENT FLAT, 6 Rodney Place, Bristol BS8 4HY.
A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to ya@crimefest.com. Details of the entries should be listed an Excel file attached to the email. See below for example:
All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.
By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide five copies of a shortlisted title for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.
Please note that, unless shortlisted authors attend the Gala Dinner—tickets can be purchased online—a brief acceptance speech must be provided to be read out at the awards presentation.
Additionally, the publisher agrees to reimburse CrimeFest for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.
Please email info@crimefest.com if you have any queries.
For details of the previous winners, visit the CRIMEFEST AWARDS page.