Young writers from all over the county gathered at Carlisle Library on Monday (26 April) as the winner of the 2010 Cumbria section of the CWA Young Crime Writers’ Competition was revealed. The winner was Kate Moloney, 15, whose story A Darker Shade of Crimson will now go on to the national stage of judging. She must wait until Crime Fiction Week (14 – 20 June) for the announcement of the national winner.
Fifteen stories were shortlisted and all their authors received certificates to mark their achievement in getting this far from award-winning crime writer Reginald Hill, creator of Dalziel and Pascoe. Also officiating were television presenter Kim Inglis and Cumbrian author Diane Janes, who has been coordinating the competition on behalf of the CWA (Crime Writers’ Association).
Diane said: “It has been an extremely close contest and it was not easy to pick a winner. When extracts from these stories were read out this evening, many people found it hard to believe that some were the work of entrants as young as 10 years old.”
Three entries were Highly Commended: Gentian Khan, 13, from Kirkby Lonsdale, Grace Long, 12, from Windermere and Fiona Money, 16, from Maryport.
Across the UK, a total of 14 regional winners go forward to the national final, which will be announced during Crime Fiction Week and judged by CWA Chair, Margaret Murphy, and Laura Wilson, CWA committee member.
The competition invited writers aged up to 18 to submit 1,000 words of crime fiction. Cumbrian entrants ranged from 10-16 years old and submitted crime stories covering anything from historical mysteries to sci-fi detectives, and from jewel heists to hired assassins.
Add to Google
