September 28,2026
Advice helps author guard against scammers
The Society of Authors has issued advice to help authors protect themselves against scammers.
It says that it has have received numerous reports recently of authors being sent scam emails, either pretending to be from the Society of Authors, or from other organisations promising marketing, festivals and much more.
To try to minimise the risk, the organisation is advising authors to remove email addresses from public websites, including their own and the SoA member directory. Instead, people who want to get in touch can use ‘Contact via the SoA’ option or signpost people to their own author website contact form.
The Society says that it will never send emails from gmail accounts or any other email that does not have an official societyofauthors.org domain name.
You can read the full report at https://societyofauthors.org/
September 28,2026
Prize champions disability in literature
The Society of Authors has announced that a prize encouraging greater positive representation of disability in literature has re-opened for submissions.
The Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses (ADCI) Literary Prize is open to authors with a disability and/or chronic illness. Submissions must contain a disabled or chronically ill character or characters and the overall prize fund is £2,000.
A report published last year by Arkbound Foundation found that, despite some recent progress, disability remains under-represented in publishing. Although one fifth of the UK population is disabled, the report cited ‘a lack of authentic, realistic stories concerning people with disabilities.’
Research published into the representation of disabled people in children’s books shows that just 10% of books published in a 12-month period featured disabled people in some way. The Reflecting Disability Study, funded by Arts Council England (ACE), also found only a narrow range of conditions were represented, and many disabled characters appeared only in the background of stories.
The ADCI Literary Prize was founded in 2022 by author Penny Batchelor and publisher Clare Christian, together with the Society of Authors, to address such issues.
Penny, who writes domestic noir psychological thrillers published by Embla Books, said: ‘Culture should reflect all of us in society and throughout my life as a bookworm, disabled or chronically ill characters have been notably absent unless they were magically cured, did something miraculous, were bitter and evil, or died to provide the novel’s pathos. Clare and I are on a mission to change that.’
The ADCI Literary Prize is biennial, alternating with the ADCI Short Story Prize, and this year will cover books published between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2026. The winner will be announced at the SoA Awards next June.
The prize is generously sponsored by Arts Council England, ALCS, the Drusilla Harvey Memorial Fund, and the Professional Writing Academy.
You can find out more at https://societyofauthors.org/
Useful information for authors on school visits
The Society of Authors has launched a toolkit to help writers when they take in school visits.
The toolkit created by the Society’s Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group (CWIG) contains advice both for authors undertaking in-person school visits, and school librarians and other staff responsible for organising these visits. Authors Aloud UK has also provided advice and the toolkit is illustrated by Hannah Berry.
For authors it covers areas such as preparation, payment, contracts, and the content of a visit, while for school staff the toolkit includes advice on what to do if budget is an issue, and tips to help pupils get the most out of an author visit.
Abie Longstaff, a children’s author and Chair of CWIG, said: “School visits play a vital role in fostering a love of reading. Meeting an author or illustrator can inspire children to read more widely, build confidence in their own writing and see literacy as an enjoyable, lifelong activity.
“However, organising and delivering a successful school visit can be intimidating – for schools and authors. This toolkit covers practical advice, tips and guidance to support authors and teachers through the process, from finding an author to the visit itself. We hope it will help everyone involved feel more confident, and ensure that visits are a positive and rewarding experience for authors, schools and children.”
CWIG has also relaunched its Reading for Please Award. Society of Authors members an nominate schools they have visited as authors which are demonstrating exceptional dedication to encouraging children and young people to read for pleasure.
Successful schools will receive a Reading for Pleasure Award certificate and badge, a personal letter celebrating their efforts, and recognition in the CWIG newsletter, along with publicity material for coverage in local press to further shine a spotlight on their efforts.
Sarah Burton, Deputy Chief Executive of the SoA and Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group Coordinator, said: “Research consistently shows the extraordinary impact that reading can have on a child’s future success and wellbeing, and meeting an author can set a child on their reading journey. But we know it’s not always easy for schools or authors to know where to start so this toolkit is packed with practical advice and insights to help.
“We also recognise that school visits can be a vital part of an author or illustrator’s income, and we hope this toolkit will encourage more visits so our wonderful children’s book creators can keep doing the work they do.
“At the same time we are relaunching our CWIG Reading for Pleasure awards, celebrating schools and all the school librarians who are quietly changing lives as they go above and beyond in their encouragement of children’s reading. We look forward to giving schools they recognition they deserve.”
You can find out more and download the toolkit at SoA launches school visits toolkit for authors – The Society of Authors
September 23, 2026
August 31 2026
Still time to enter crime fiction competition
here is still time to enter one of the UK’s biggest writing competitions, which seeks to find the next best-selling crime writer of colour.
The aim of the competition, which was established in 2021 by the crime publisher Joffe Books and is now in its sixth year, is to discover and launch talented crime writers from Black, Asian, Indigenous, and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are not represented by a literary agent. Writers who live in the UK, as well as British citizens, are eligible for the prize.
Authors are asked to submit the first 10,000 words of their novel and the winner will be offered:
A two-book publishing deal with Joffe Books
A £1,000 cash prize
£25,000 Audible audiobook contract for the first book
A two-year membership to the Society of Authors
The closing date is September 30, 2026, and this year’s Joffe Books Prize judging panel includes Dhonielle Clayton, COO of We Need Diverse Books and New York Times bestselling author; literary agent Shanika Hyslop; award-winning Scottish author Adam Oyebanji; and Rachel Slatter, Joffe Books’ editorial director.
The shortlist will be announced in October, with the winner being unveiled in November.
You can find out more in the News section at http://www.joffebooks.com
August 27 2026
New festival to be staged
Joffe Books, who I am proud to call my publisher is one of the sponsors of a new entry into the calendar of crime fiction events.
Preston Crime Fiction Festival happens in the Lancashire city between September 25 and 27 and will start with moderator Harry Navinski, and fellow authors Guy Hale, Sarah Mellor, Roger A. Price and Donna Gowland exploring how crime, detection and criminal opportunity have changed in an age of digital surveillance, smartphones and ever-watchful neighbours.
You can find out the full programme at prestoncrimefictionfestival.co.uk
August 18 2026
Viva the young crime fiction readers!
Here’s an optimistic thought for those authors who, quite rightly, worry that a lot of their readers are retired people, and that welcome as they are, they will not be around for ever, and that there are not enough young people reading crime fiction to replace them.
Research on the Accio.com website has identified a reason to be optimistic, that one of the healthiest areas within the genre is Young Adult (YA) and Social-Media Driven Mystery.
These stories are crime fiction aimed at younger adults or featuring teenage sleuths, with a lot of the books attracting widespread online interest from young readers with a focus on social justice, digital-age investigation, and fast paced storytelling.
According to the researchers, the sector is ‘growing rapidly’ and they cite as an example Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, whichachieved more than 2 million sales in one recent month, and the ever-popular Nance Drew series plus the rapidly increasing number of ‘Urban Thriller’ authors.
The challenge for us crime authors who write for older readers – or assume we do – is how to reach out to these young readers as they get older and persuade them to read our books- and as challenges go that’s a big one!
August 14 2026
Festival programme goes on sale
The programme for the Durham Book Festival has been revealed and tickets are on sale.
The event, which runs between October 9-11, includes Christopher Eccleston, Susanna Clarke, Sophie Irwin, Lucy Foley, Sufiyaan Salam, Neil Tennant, Hollie McNish, James Marriott and many more.Whether you love music and poetry, fantasy and gaming, crime and Regency romance, life writing and local stories, or something else entirely, the festival is for you.
Highlights include:
| An Evening with Hollie McNish and Michael PedersenFriday 9 October, 7-8pm, Gala Theatre Enjoy a heartfelt and hilarious evening of poetry as Hollie McNish reads from her latest collection, Virgin, alongside Scottish poet Michael PedersonThe Working Class Library on Tony Harrison with Special Guest Christopher Eccleston Sunday 11 October, 5-6pm, GalaAward-winning actor Christopher Eccleston joins Richard Benson and Claire Malcolm on the Working Class Library podcast to discuss the legacy of the renowned poet Tony Harrison. He will also be joined by poet Jo Clement.Susanna Clarke: The Bishop of Durham Attempts to Surrender the City Saturday 10 October, 5-6pm, GalaInternational bestseller Susanna Clarke presents her brand-new novella in the lore of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, following an epic questthrough an otherworldly version of Durham besieged by a fairy host.You can find out more, including how to book tickets, at Durham Book Festival – New Writing North |
August 7,2026
They get me – authors to explore the idea of ideas’
Best-selling crime writer John Dean will mark 20 years as a published novelist with a discussion about the nature of ideas with fellow crime writer Ian Robinson at a Kirkcudbright hotel in Dumfries and Galloway.
The title of the event is taken from the quote from Robertson Davies, Canadian novelist, playwright, and critic, who when asked where his ideas come from, replied:
‘My usual, perfectly honest reply is, ‘I don’t get them; they get me’
John, whose twenty seventh novel, The Informer, is out in September, will tell Ian how the ideas for his books have come about in an event which will interest writers and readers alike.
John’s latest novel, the thirteenth in the series, is set as usual in the fictional northern England city of Hafton, where a church is in flames, a housing estate is blighted by rioting, hate fills the air, the dead appear to be walking the streets, and a shadowy figure is orchestrating it all – but who? And why?
John said: “The big challenge for authors is to keep the ideas coming. The event will examine the process whereby that happens.”
John and Ian both live in Dumfries and Galloway and are published by the Book Folks, a Joffe Books imprint.
Duration One hour. Date: Thursday September 17 7pm Selkirk Arms, Wee Bar, High Street, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway DG6 4JG
Entry Free but numbers are limited and can be on deangriss@btinternet.com or 07889 554931. Duration: One hour
August 4 2026
Honour for author
The winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2026 is The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths, with Frances Crawford winning the McDermid Debut Award (and a Highly Commended going to Mel Pennant), and David Baldacci being awarded the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award.
The Frozen People is the first book in a new series with a time-travelling spin, as an unsolved mystery takes cold cases investigator Ali Dawson back to the frozen Victorian London of January 1850 to explore a series of killings that have twenty-first century consequences for politicians and Ali’s own family.
Elly Griffiths, from Sussex, had been shortlisted for the Award eight times and was Highly Commended in 2023 for The Locked Room.
She received the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in 2025.
You can find out more at https://newwritingnorth.com/
July 3 202
Dagger winners announced
Abigail Dean is among the big winners in the Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards, scooping the Gold Award, with Dagger in the Library winner Tim Sullivan among other authors celebrating. You can see the full list at http://www.thecwa.co.uk
June 25 2026
Award-winning writers are named
Some of the 2026 winners (L-R) Sarah Hunt, Italo Ferrante, Rhianna Frances, Beth Broomby, Carlton Rose, Shazia J. Altaf, Phoebe Walker, Jodie Matthews, Nate Black, Antony Dunn, Amelia Loulli, Narimaan Shafi and Kris Johnson. Photo by Rob Irish.
New Writing North announced the 27 recipients of its 2026 Northern Writers’ Awards at a ceremony at Northumbria University and all will receive a bespoke writing development programme, supported by a range of industry partners and professionals.
The awards went to:
Northern Writers’ Award for Narrative Non-Fiction
Désirée Reynolds (Sheffield)
Northern Debut Award for Fiction
Nate Black (Redcar)
Northern Debut Award for Young Adult Fiction
Rhianna Frances (Sheffield)
Northern Writers’ Award for Poetry
Antony Dunn (Leeds)
Northern Debut Awards for Poetry
Sally Baker (Yorkshire)
Carlton Rose (Manchester)
Hachette Children’s Novel Awards
Wendy Davis (North West)
Sabah Nawaz (Lancashire)
Great Northern Read Award
Sarah Hunt (Whitley Bay)
Charlotte Aitken Trust Awards for Poetry
Kris Johnson (York)
Amelia Loulli (Cumbria)
Charlotte Aitken Trust Awards for Fiction
Jodie Matthews (Stockport)
Phoebe Walker (Stockport)
Northumbria University Student and Alumni Award
Victoria Flemming (Newcastle)
Tees Valley Award
Shazia J. Altaf (Middlesbrough)
Tempest Prize
Lauren C. Maltas (Manchester)
Sid Chaplin Award
Alison Armstrong (Lancaster)
Finchale Award for Short Fiction
Narimaan Shafi (Sheffield)
Northern Promise TLC Awards
Italo Ferrante (Manchester)
Grey Marlow (Manchester)
Arvon Award
Beth Broomby (Cumbria)
Young Northern Writers’ Award: Winner (11-14)
Anya Adnan (Newcastle)
Young Northern Writers’ Award: Highly Commended (11-14)
Chidimma Nnadi (Altrincham)
Young Northern Writers’ Award: Winner (15-18)
Nathan Graham (Rotherham)
Young Northern Writers’ Award: Highly Commended (15-18)
Jessie Morris (Durham)
Matthew Hale Award
Juneau Atkinson (Gateshead)
Eva Ibbotson Award
Hidayate (Newcastle)
June 19 2026
Publisher launches one of the UK’s biggest writing prizes
Joffe Books, winner of Trade Publisher of the Year at the 2026 Independent Publishing Awards, has opened submissions for the 2026 Joffe Books Prize, which sees a talented writer of colour awarded a prize package that includes a two-book contract, a £25,000 Audible audiobook contract for the first book, a £1k cash payment and a two-year membership of the Society of Authors.
The aim of the competition, which was established in 2021 and is now in its sixth year, is to discover and launch talented British crime writers from Black, Asian, Indigenous, and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are not represented by a literary agent. Writers who live in the UK, as well as British citizens, are eligible to enter the prize.
Aspiring authors are only required to submit the first 10,000 words of their novels, along with a synopsis, meaning the competition is open to both completed drafts and works in progress.
This year’s Joffe Books Prize judging panel includes Dhonielle Clayton, COO of We Need Diverse Books, and New York Times bestselling author; literary agent Shanika Hyslop; award-winning Scottish author Adam Oyebanji; and Rachel Slatter, Joffe Books’ editorial director.
Authors who write all flavours of crime — from electrifying psychological thrillers and domestic suspense, to cosy mysteries and gritty police procedurals — can submit the first 10,000 words of their potential novel online until 30 September 2026.
The shortlist will be announced in October, with the winner being unveiled in November.
Joffe Books is one of the few publishers that maintain open submissions all year round for authors and agents, but this prize was set up specifically to encourage submissions from diverse voices.
Jasper Joffe, CEO and publisher of Joffe Books, said: “When we launched the Joffe Books Prize six years ago, our aim was to help create meaningful, long-lasting change by actively seeking out writers from communities that are underrepresented in our genre. I’m already looking forward to meeting this year’s winner and supporting them and their long-term career.”
Full competition guidelines and terms and conditions are available on the Joffe Books website at http://www.joffebooks.com/
May 31 2026
Joffe Books enters the digital market place
Joffe Books, which I am proud to call my publisher, continues to go from strength to strength. The company, which was recently named Trade Publisher of the Year at the Independent Publishing Awards (IPA), has filled a gap in its provision by launching its own audio books operation. Joffe Audio titles are available through https://www.audible.co.uk
It is the latest move from the company, which recently started a new initiative to increase sales of hardcopy books at ‘non-trade’ outlets, ie which means that in addition to selling through bookshops, they also sell at the likes of garden centres.
May 28 2026
Author shortlisted for major prize
Exciting news – the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival in Stirling has named the first all-women shortlist for its Scotland Debut Prize, including Dumfries and Galloway author May Rinaldi, author of the psychological crime novel Liar Thief, her first published novel.
The others shortlisted authors are Frances Crawford, Linda Duncan McLaughlin, Kirsty Lockwood and Zoe Rankin and the winner will be announced at the festival, on Friday 18th September
Crime novels reissued ahead of launch
The Book Folks, a Joffe Books company, has decided to re-issue the first four books in the Nash and Moretti series by Ian Robinson, prior to the fifth being released on June 15. They are terrific books from one of my favourite authors and the series by Ian, who is from South West Scotland, will be released every two weeks until June 15.
In the books, Nash and Moretti were DCs ten years ago on the Borough crime squad. When she made DI and moved to Homicide, she handpicked him for her team. He nearly said no — he was worried that becoming his boss would cost her the friendship. She told him she needed his judgement more than a beer with a mate. Neither of them has had cause to regret the trade.
DI Pippa Nashis the kind of senior investigating officer her bosses would quietly prefer to manage out — if she weren’t so good at her job. Career-driven, with covert work behind her, she runs her team by three rules: assume nothing, believe no one, challenge everything. Off-duty she rides motorbikes through Scotland, listens to Motörhead, and lives alone in a top-floor flat with no television. Uncompromising on the job, fiercely loyal to her team — and ten years into a partnership with Moretti.
DS Nick Moretti keeps his world stripped back. He lives alone on a barge in a London marina, smokes a pipe when he wants to think, and forgets to charge his phone more often than is helpful. He’s currently sharing his boat with an artist neighbour whose heating has packed in — exactly the kind of complication his life seems to attract. On the job he’s instinctive, well-liked, and not above bending procedure when it suits him. Off it, he’d rather be on a beach in Corfu.
If you are on Instagram, you can follow Ian on @iprauthor or sign up to his website https://www.iprobinson.com
Amazon said of the books: Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, MJ Arlidge and Cara Hunter.
May 24 2026
A tale of secrets and treachery
I first encountered Darlington author Paul Hodgson more than twenty years ago through his excellent autobiographies based on the life and times of a wheelchair-bound football fan, which were poignant, thought-provoking and humorous. Now, he has a new novel out.
John‘s Journey tells how, in the blood-soaked trenches of World War One, Private John Wray carries a forbidden secret. A chance encounter with Hans, a college friend turned enemy soldier, changes everything, forcing John to weave a web of lies to survive the Front.
Decades later, having come through the carnage, John is pulled back into the fray as an undercover MI5 agent operating in Nazi Berlin. Hunted by the SS and betrayed by his own handlers, he must rely on Hans’ father to navigate a city of shadows.
In a high-stakes race for the Swiss border, John must decide: Can he finally outrun his past, or will the shadows of war finally catch up with him?’
The book, which is published by an American publisher, is available from Amazon or direct from the author at paul.hodgson1000@ntlworld.com
May 20, 2026
Publisher targets hardcopy sales increase
Joffe Books has announced that it is working on an initiative designed to increase its hardcopy sales.
With ebooks and Kindle Unlimited so dominant in many genres, Joffe is working to build up a print channel in the UK ‘non-trade space’, such as garden centres.
Working with sales partner John Waters, it has offered a selection of titles to non-trade retailers across the United Kingdom.
Joffe Books, which I am delighted to say is my publisher, says: “This broadens the reach of Joffe Books and positions our titles in places where many of our readers already shop, beyond traditional bookshops and into everyday retail spaces where our books can find new audiences. We are working with fantastic partners at The Works, Baker & Taylor and several others.
“In just a few months, and across only a small number of authors, the response has been tremendous. We are particularly delighted to share that copies of books by Margaret James and Joy Ellis are now appearing in gardening centres across the country, as well as on the shelves of The Works, and the numbers are already exceeding our expectations.
“This is only the beginning. We are actively working to expand the range of titles being pitched, and our ambition is to grow this channel significantly in the coming years. As we build these relationships with retailers and refine our approach, we expect the opportunity to open up across a much wider selection of our authors and genres.”
May 16 2026
September 18-20, 2026 Bloody Scotland.
Dates have been announced for the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival which will be held in Stirling between September 18-20, 2026.
Headlining the festival will be Lee Child, creator of Jack Reacher, on the evening of Friday September, 18, 2026 in conversation with crime writer Denise Mina. Other big names due to attend and released ahead of the main programme are Richard Osman.
Bloody Scotland established itself as the leading Scottish International Crime Writing Festival in 2012 with acclaimed writers Lin Anderson and Alex Gray at the helm, then joined by Craig Robertson and Gordon Brown. Based in Stirling, Since then, Bloody Scotland has brought hundreds of crime writers new and established to the stage. More information is available at www.bloodyscotland.com
May 14 2026
Comic creators facing tough times despite success of sector
A report has revealed the challenges facing the creators of comics, even though the sector is enjoying commercial success.
The UK Comics Creators Research Report presents findings from a survey conducted by the Comics Cultural Impact Collective, the Association of Illustrators(AOI) and the Society of Authors (SoA), which showed that almost 90% of respondents who earn an income from traditional publishing do not earn the national living wage from their comics work, and 13% are relying on state benefits.
Alongside low pay, comics creators are experiencing rising pressures on their time as they juggle multiple jobs and administrative tasks, as well as rising costs. Other challenges include the threat from AI and the lasting impact of Brexit.
This is set against a picture of an industry which includes figures from the NielsenIQ BookScan, showing that in 2025 the UK comics market reached its highest-ever total sales, making £78.7 million, an increase of 13.9% from 2024. Children’s comic strip fiction and graphic novels hit £25.9 million – a 28.7% increase on the previous year, and the biggest sales year the category has ever recorded in the UK.
The report makes seven core recommendations for funders, policymakers and industry bodies. These include developing comics-specific vocational training and apprenticeships, creating practical guidance resources, and recognising comics as a cultural art form in UK policy.
Josie Dobrin OBE, Chair of the AOI, said: “Comics are a rapidly growing part of our creative industry, yet this report clearly demonstrates that many creators are not sharing in the success of this growth. We urgently need to address the gap between a booming market and the reality of low pay, insecure work and increasing pressures experienced by many comic artists. By bringing these experiences together, the report strengthens the case for meaningful action – from fairer funding and recognition to targeted support to make comic creation a sustainable career. Comics are playing an increasingly important role in engaging readers and reflecting our society, so it’s time that the people behind them are properly valued and supported.”
Treat for Aline Templeton fans
There’s a real treat on offer for fans of bestselling Scottish crime novelist Aline Templeton, many of whose novels are based in Dumfries and Galloway.
Her new novel, Truth to Tell, is published by Allison & Busby on May 22, 2026: ‘It is a bitterly cold night, with rain falling and an edge of snow. Under the sickly yellow lighting in the lorry park, three men are looting precious cargo from the tarpaulined trailers – but the crack of a gunshot pierces the night, and everything changes.’
It is the seventh book in the DCI Kelso Strang series is set in Torridon, in north-west Scotland, where the dramatic peaks are an uncompromising backdrop as Strang contends with seismic events that will change many lives to get at the truth.
Also, Joffe Books is re-issuing titles from Aline’s hugely popular Galloway Series, starting with Murder in Galloway. ‘Death is in the air. Death is on the ground. Death is everywhere for the people of Galloway. As the catastrophic Foot and Mouth virus devastates the Scottish countryside, killing cattle and destroying lives, DI Marjory Fleming finds herself at the stormy heart of a troubled, trapped community.
A dead body, a missing girl and a mysterious family’s dangerous obsession with bull-running provides a sinister background to Fleming’s first murder investigation.
The first in the series is republished by Joffe Books and available on Kindle and in paperback. The second, Murder in Knockhaven Harbour, is also available on Kindle with paperback to follow.
April 29 2026
Joffe Books wins major award
Delighted to report that Joffe Books, which is my publisher, has won Trade Publisher of the Year in the IPA Awards!
The team deserve every accolade they deserve for their skill, energy and innovative approach to publishing
April 26, 2026
And the best-sellers are….
Some interesting findings from Writers of the West, a firm specialising in publishing and ghostwriting services in the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Looking at what readers are buying in 2026, using data including that from Circana and NielsenIQ, Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Audible, BookTok, Kindle Unlimited and indie sales figures, they say that the leading genres are:
Romance and Romantasy:
“Romance has always been a giant in publishing, but in 2026 it is not just strong, it is unstoppable. Readers are hungry for happily-ever-afters, enemies-to-lovers arcs, slow burns, and epic declarations. Add fantasy to the mix and you get romantasy, a hybrid genre that has exploded into the spotlight. The formula is irresistible. Readers get lush magical worlds, high-stakes conflict, and relationships that keep them turning pages late into the night. Romantasy is not just a trend, it is a cultural wave. If you are looking at the most profitable book genres, romance and romantasy sit right at the top.”
Fantasy
“Closely tied to the rise of romantasy is the resurgence of fantasy itself. Epic sagas, crossover young adult titles, and sprawling multi-book worlds are thriving. Readers are not content with a single adventure. They want series that span years, characters they can grow with, and worlds they can disappear into again and again.”
Thrillers, Suspense, and Crime
“While romance and fantasy grab headlines, thrillers and crime novels remain the reliable backbone of the industry. They may not always go viral on TikTok, but they never leave the charts. Readers crave tension, mystery, and the adrenaline rush of a good twist. Domestic suspense has seen fresh growth, borrowing energy from the true-crime boom. The strength of thrillers lies in their dependability. Readers know they will get a fast pace, a puzzle to solve, and a resolution that leaves them satisfied. For authors, that translates into a stable, evergreen market.”
Science Fiction
“Science fiction holds its ground in 2026, particularly in space opera and near-future dystopias. The genre thrives on series economics. Once readers invest in book one, they often commit to the full journey. Sci-fi also excels in audio formats, with narration and production quality immersing listeners in worlds far beyond Earth.”
The Runners-Up Horror continues to find fresh energy, especially when fused with romance or mystery. Graphic novels and manga remain powerful contenders, boosted by younger readers and strong crossover appeal across print and digital platforms.
It’s not just interesting, it could help emerging writers who are not sure what to write to make up their minds, a point I make in my book on writing fiction, which can be purchased on Amazon.
You can find out more at http://www.writersofthewest.net
April 22 2026
Hotel to stage crime fiction event
Two popular crime writers and one of the genre’s most respected editors will help authors develop their craft when a hotel in Dumfries and Galloway hosts a specially-organised weekend of events later this year.
Entitled Crime Fiction at the Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright, the event will take place at the four-star hotel in High Street between November 27-29, 2026.
The residential event will begin on the Friday evening when those taking part will have an opportunity to talk to Dea Parkin, Ian Robinson and John Dean, who will join them for dinner in an event called Supper and Sleuthing.
Dea is the former General Coordinator and an associate member of the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) through her editorial consultancy Fiction Feedback, of which she is owner and Editor-in-chief. It specialises in critiquing and editing crime and historical fiction, and Dea and her team have worked alongside some of crime fiction’s biggest authors, agents and publishers. This year, Dea is a judge on the Historical Dagger and Fiction Feedback sponsors the Emerging Author Dagger, a competition for unpublished crime writers.
Authors Ian Robinson and John Dean live in Dumfries and Galloway and are published by Joffe Books, which recently took over their publisher The Book Folks and is one of the UK’s most successful publishers of crime fiction.
Ian, a former Metropolitan Police detective, writes the popular DS Sam Batford and Nick Moretti and Pippa Nash London Crimes series. Former newspaper Crime Reporter John created the best-selling DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series, of which 25 titles have been published.
The Friday night dinner will be followed by a short talk delivered by Dea, ending with a question and answer session with Dea, Ian and John.
The event will be followed by a weekend crime writing workshop led by Dea, with sessions on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, covering topics as diverse as the craft of crime writing to how to impress agents and publishers.
The price for the weekend, which includes accommodation, meals and the workshops, is £315pp. Places are limited to 16 and can be booked at The Selkirk Arms Hotel High Street, Kirkcudbright DG6 4JG Tel: 01557 330402 Website: http://www.selkirkarmshotel.co.uk
The event is part of work being done to develop the already-thriving crime writing scene in Kirkcudbright and the surrounding area.
April 20 2026
New website supports town’s crime writing scene
A website has been created to celebrate Kirkcudbright’s developing links with crime writing, which stretch back to the 1931 novel Five Red Herrings, written by legendary crime author Dorothy L Sayers, in which her investigator Lord Peter Wimsey investigated the murder of a local artist.
The town in South West Scotland has a track record for continuing to promote crime writing and the site will build into a guide to crime writing events in Kirkcudbright and the wider Dumfries and Galloway.
The website, which has been created by Chris Walker, owner of the Selkirk Arms in the town, and local crime novelists Ian Robinson and John Dean, can be found at at www.kirkcudbrightcrimewriting.com
Kirkcudbright picture used courtesy of John Smith
April 10, 2026
Joffe Books shortlisted for second award
I am delighted see that Joffe Books, which publishes my crime novels, had been shortlisted for another award.
Already shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year, part of the British Book Awards 2026, the fast-growing company has now been shortlisted for Trade Publisher of the Year in the Independent Publishing Guild (IPG) awards, which it won 2023.
There are 14 categories this year with a record 68 nominations and the winners will be announced on April 29 2026
You can find out more about Joffe Books at https://joffebooks.com
April 2, 2026
Joffe Books completes takeover
Rapidly-expanding Joffe Books has completed its takeover of respected publisher Severn House, which was founded in 1974 and whose specialties include crime fiction, as does Joffe Books, as well as horror and ghost stories.
Severn House’s crime writers include Simon Brett and the company has a particularly strong presence in the United States.
March 28 2026
Funding secured for new centre
New Writing North and Northumbria University have announced that funding is in place for their new centre for writing and publishing in Newcastle.
They hope to buy the Old Post Office in Newcastle for the centre, which will be a public building hosting events and courses for writers based in the north, everyone from professional authors to aspiring writers.
The centre will strengthen Newcastle’s ambitions to become a national hub for writing and publishing and there will be a dedicated space Northumbria University students of English, Creative Writing, and Publishing.
Funding secured for the project includes £5 million from Department for Culture, Media, and Sport as part of its Cultural Development Fund, £1 million from Newcastle City Council, with a further £4.5 million from regional backers to be announced.
As well as significant funding from central and local government, the centre is a key part of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ Cultural Strategy, and backed by publishers including Hachette UK, Faber and Simon & Schuster.
March 16 2026
Publisher is shortlisted for award
I am delighted to hear that Joffe Books, which publishes my books, was shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year, part of the prestigious British Book Awards 2026.
The shortlisting is acknowledgement of a year which saw Joffe continue to grow rapidly, publishing both establishing authors and exciting new talent.
It also saw the company make acquisitions including The Book Folks and Severn House, with the end result that more than three million ebooks, hardcopy books and audio books were sold, and 1.8 billion pages were read on subscription platforms.
You can find out more about Joffe Books at https://joffebooks.com/
March 13 2026
| 2027 CWA Daggers are now Open for Submission |
| The Crime Writers’ Association has announced that the 2027 Daggers awards are open for submission. The Daggers, which have been synonymous with quality crime writing for more than half a century, are judged by independent expert panels. There are thirteen categories, including: The KAA Gold Dagger for Novel of the Year The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for Best Thriller The CWA Twisted Dagger for psychological thrillers and suspense The CWA Whodunit Dagger for cosy, traditional, and Golden-Age inspired mysteries The ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger The CWA ALCS Gold Dagger for Nonfiction The Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger in Honour of Dolores Jakubowski The CWA Historical Dagger The CWA Short Story Dagger You can read more about the different Daggers and the submission guidelines at https://thecwa.co.uk// |
March 11 2026
Jerwood Fellowship recipients announced
New Writing North has announced that Kym Deyn, Katherine Horrex and J.A.Mensah have been selected as the recipients of the Jerwood Fellowships. The Fellowships support early career published writers of fiction, poetry and narrative non-fiction with a £10,000 cash bursary and a bespoke package of support and mentoring, funded by the Jerwood Foundation.
Kym Deyn is a poet and writer of weird fiction who moonlights variously as a tarot reader, a librarian, and the editor of The Braag CIC, a micro-press based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Katherine Horrex’s first collection Growlery is published by Carcanet. It was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Prize in 2021, and featured a poem called ‘Parliament, Fallen’, which was Highly Commended in the Forward Prizes Best Poem category.
Her poems have featured in a variety of publications, such as The Guardian,The Times Literary Supplement, The Poetry Review, and Poetry London. They have also been anthologised in The Forward Prizes Anthology 2021, and The Emma Press anthology Some Cannot Be Caught.
J.A. Mensah’s debut novel, Castles from Cobwebs, was nominated for the Desmond Elliott Prize and won the NorthBound Book Award. Her short stories have been published by Comma Press, New Writing North, Dead Ink and Bloomsbury. Her plays have been produced by companies including Pilot Theatre and Live Theatre, among others.
February 2 2026
A new take on the life of a great showman
Author Carol Dean has published the life story of one of the most colourful figures in the American Old West – and readers may be in for a surprise.
The reader may think that they know Buffalo Bill’s story already but Carol’s meticulous research adds immeasurably to our knowledge of the great showman for her book Buffalo Bill The Legend, which takes in everything from his film career to his enlightened politics, including his support for women’s suffrage, and his progressive approach to conservation.
Carol has covered extensively that era of history as part of her Native American series and does not always focus on the better-known individuals – see, for example, her excellent biography of the last Comanche chief Quanah Parker entitled One Man – Two Worlds and her account of the role of the Navajo as World War Two codebreakers.
Famous as Buffalo Bill may been, this latest book in the series is bound to add immeasurably to the reader’s knowledge. The books can all be purchased on Amazon.
.January 30 2026
Crime writers’ honour goes to Mark Billingham
One of the most prestigious honours in the crime writing world has been awarded to Mark Billingham, in recognition of his twenty-five year contribution to the genre.
The author, whose debut novel Sleepyhead was a bestseller, the first of many, has been awarded the Diamond Dagger by the Crime Writers’ Association.
January 15 2026
Sequel to thriller is published
He’s back! One of the fictional world’s most unusual killers has returned in the sequel to the novella Koki, by thriller writer Malcolm Beadle.
The first book in the series by Malcolm, of Darlington, County Durham, which was published in 2025, introduced readers to former rodeo clown/turned Army sniper Trent Blane.
Blane has been a hunter since he was aged eight and moved on from hunting animals to hunting human beings when he enlisted in the American Army and became a sniper in the Vietnam War.
Blane is no ordinary sniper. Having left behind his family and abandoned the only job he has ever known, working as a clown called Koki in Rodeo shows across the United States, he paints his face as a clown before he goes out hunting the enemy in the steamy jungles of Vietnam.
The sequel, Koki’s Last Dance, which is a full-length novel, follows him into Civvy Street where, having worked for the CIA, he transfers to rival agency the FBI.
In the novel, Koki, whose complex all-action character will appeal to fans of Jack Reacher, the creation of global best-selling thriller author Lee Child, finds himself in trouble when, having solved a case involving missing children, he makes an innocent comment to his beautiful neighbour and he and his friends become the targets of dangerous people seeking to extract revenge.
What their pursuers do not know is that Koki will do anything to protect his friends, who he regards as family, and that, just because he has hung up his sniper’s rifle, it does not mean that he is not prepared to kill to defend those people whom he cherishes.
The series can be traced back twenty years to when Malcolm, now 65, who works in a recycling centre, took screenwriting classes at Darlington Arts Centre in the South Durham town, followed by writing classes run at the centre by crime writer John Dean, now a best-selling crime novelist living in South West Scotland, and one of a number of authors who have continued to work with Malcolm down the years.
Malcom said: “The first book took twenty years to be published so I am delighted that there are now two of them. For the cover designed by Mark Etherington for Koki’s Last Dance, I wanted an image depicting a couple having a slow dance. Maybe if they were doing a quick-step, I might have finished it faster!”
John said: “The most impressive thing about Mally as a writer is the sheer variety of ideas that pour out of his fertile imagination and onto the page. In the early days of his writing career, he had trouble concentrating on just one book but he gradually the learned the author’s art of ‘focus’ and, clearly, Koki has captured his imagination, as he has with readers.”
The sequel has a stunning front cover, created by book designer Mark Etherington, who has provided an equally striking image to replace the one used in the first book.
Both titles can be purchased in ebook and paperback formats on Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk.
Novella given new cover
The thriller novella Koki has been given a bold new front cover ahead of the publication of its sequel Koki’s Last Dance
The books by Malcolm Beadle tell the story of Trent Blane, clown turned Vietnam War sniper who paints his face before going out hunting the enemy in Vietnam. The sequel, a full-length novel, follows him into Civvy street. The covers were designed by Mark Etherington and the first book is available to buy in ebook and paperback format on Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk
December 25 2025
December 17, 2025
Accolade for author’s debut novel
The debut novel by crime writer May Rinaldi, from South West Scotland, has been published – and it’s already an award-winner.
Liar Thief, which won the Black Spring Press Crime Novel 2024, is a psychological thriller with a protagonist, whose voice buries itself into your subconscious and refuses to leave. An emotional, darkly propulsive plot, and a unique storytelling format means this is a book that will be talked about for a long time.
May recently retired from her consultancy job in Health and Safety and, in the past, has worked as a taxidermist, mycologist and lab technician, all useful in crime writing – not only can her protagonist poison her victims, she can turn them into an interesting, mounted specimen afterwards.
She is the co-founder of Moffat Crime Fest, bringing top crime authors to the Dumfries and Galloway town of Moffat. She also runs writing retreats in her secluded home.
She lives in the South-West of Scotland.
December 9 2025
Trust seeks support for books initiative
The Scottish Book Trust (SBT) is seeking donations for its ongoing campaign to provide books for disadvantaged families who do not own them.
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, more than a million people in Scotland are living in poverty and a quarter of them are children. The most disadvantaged children are 50% more likely not to own a book than their peers, according to research by the National Literacy Trust.
Sharing books, songs and stories can help give all children in Scotland the best start in life and the Scottish Book Trust works to tackle inequality and break the poverty cycle through access to books and reading.
Since 2020, public donations have gifted more than 380,000 new books to children and families in need through food banks, community hubs and other charities across Scotland.
You can find out more, and donate, at http://www.scottishbooktrust.com
November 28 2025
Capital’s book festival wins top tourism award
The importance of books to the Scottish economy was underlined when a major tourism award was awarded to the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
The 2025 Scottish Thistle Awards National Final, whose winners are pictured here, shone a spotlight on Scotland’s tourism offering with events and festivals well represented throughout the evening.
After winning the Regional Final for Central and East, Edinburgh International Book Festival was crowned champions in the Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival category.
There were nineteen awards and more information can be found at https://www.visitscotland.org/
Picture © VisitScotland / Connor Mollison
November 23, 2025
Dates announced for 2026 crime writing festivals
Dates have been announced for two annual crime writing festivals in 2026.
Capital Crime will stage its next three-day festival between Thursday 18 June-Saturday 20 June 2026, when more than 100 authors and specialists will celebrate the crime and thriller genres in the heart of central London. More details can be found at www.capitalcrime.org
Dates have also been announced for the Bloody Scotland festival which will be held in Stirling between September 18-20, 2026.
The website if you wish to find out more is http://www.bloodyscotland.com
November 19 2025
Crime fiction plays starring role in global book sales
NielsenIQ BookData and GfK Entertainment have released their international data for book sales in the first eight months of 2025. The authors of the report say that international book markets witnessed subdued non-fiction sales which declined in many areas, but strong performances in fiction genres including crime and thriller, science-fiction and fantasy.
Covering January to August 2025 show, the figures show that 11 of the 19 territories surveyed reported revenue growth compared to the same period last year. India (+28.6%), Brazil (+10.8%), Colombia (+9.6%), and Portugal (+8.4%) reported particularly strong increases.
France and the United Kingdom, the largest markets in the report with sales of 186 million and 115 million units respectively, ended the first eight months of 2025 with slight revenue declines of -0.8% and -0.4%. The Netherlands (-0.7%), Poland (-1.3%), German-speaking Switzerland (-1.8%), and Italy (-2.6%) also recorded downturns.
Eight of the territories reported an increase in the number of books sold. In addition to growth markets like India (+27.1%) and Brazil (+10.0%), these included Australia (+2.0%) and New Zealand (+8.4%). Elsewhere, sales declined, such as in Italy (-3.0%) and Belgium’s Wallonia region (-2.2%).
Average book prices rose across the board, helping in part to counteract the drop in sales volumes.
As in the previous year, the fiction segment developed positively, with 14 of 19 territories reporting revenue growth. Crime authors including Freida McFadden played a key role. Suzanne Collins dominated children’s and young adult segment.
The analysis is based on sales of printed books from January to August 2025.
November 18 2025
Author wins top prize
Publisher Joffe Books has announced that the Joffe Books Prize 2025 has gone to T.L. Haseeb, for The Portrait Maker, the first in a new police procedural series featuring Amber Kash, a seasoned British Asian Detective Inspector in her forties.
The author receives a two-book publishing deal with Joffe Books, a £1,000 cash prize and a £25,000 audiobook deal from Audible for the first book. This is one of Britain’s biggest crime prizes.
The Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour was established in 2021 to discover talented new writers from Black, Asian, Indigenous and minority ethnic backgrounds.
.”October 30 2025
Poetry collection was inspired by bravery
Poet Kenneth Steven has a knack of picking fascinating subjects and giving them a distinctive treatment and his latest collection A Song Among The Stones adds to that reputation.
Kenneth chose the story of 7th Century Irish hermit monks who left the island of Iona and dared to cross an unforgiving ocean to the wild, unknown shores of Iceland.
Inspired by this incredible journey, Kenneth distilled their experience into this sequence of poems.
The book, which is illustrated by Frances Law, can be purchased in paperback format on Amazon.
October 28 2025
Author’s crime writing career gathers pace
The second crime novel by Castle Douglas writer David L Haigh has been published with the third in the series to be available in November (2025).
Hooked By The Past, the second book in the series, is published by Ingle-Haigh and follows David’s debut crime novel Land Kill, which came out in February 2024.
David is a member of the Stewartry Writers group Dumfries and Galloway in 2019.
David said that other support has included editing by Claire Cronshaw, of Cherry Edits, and proof-reading by freelance book editor Laura Dean. The cover designs were produced by Bespoke Author, who also carried out the formatting for sale on Amazon.
October 3 2025
Writers win awards
The winners of the Channel 4 Writing for TV Awards 2025 have been revealed at an event at Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle.
The awards provide emerging television writers in the North of England with unique professional opportunities to propel their careers.
All four winners will each receive mentoring, a £3,000 cash bursary and a long-term placement with a leading production company, funded by Channel 4’s training and development initiative, 4Skills.
The winners are:
Jack Hartley who will have a placement with Warp Films, which produced the award-winning global hit Adolescence and series This is England.
Chanse Campbell who will have a placement with Rope Ladder Fiction, the production company behind long-running school drama Waterloo Road.
Cai Odu who will have a placement with FilmNation Entertainment, whose recent productions include Chris O’Dowd’s Small Town, Big Story, and the award-winning HBO mini-series I Know This Much Is True.
Tania Ferreyra who will have a placement with Bonafide Films, whose productions include the Bafta-winning Mood, and acclaimed drama The Last Post.
September 29 2025
Dublin Murders boxset hits the heights
The Dublin Murders, a six-book boxed set for Kindle, is a best-seller on Amazon UK and has been welcomed by fans of author David Pearson.
Published by The Book Folks, a Joffe Books company, this compendium of riveting mysteries follows the lives of DI Aidan Burke and DS Fiona Moore as they get to grips with some of the most puzzling mysteries they have ever encountered.
Set in Dublin, each book presents a different view of crime in the capital city, often with international connections.
September 28 2025
Writers’ talent recognised with awards
New Writing North has announced the winners of its Significant Ink awards for 2025.
Jessica Chen, Ali Choudhary and Claire Mi-Son Hennon will each receive £1,000 to support their writing, as well as receiving mentoring, peer support and development sessions.
Significant Ink is the organisation’s writer development and outreach programme for global majority writers (authors from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds) and is funded by the Community Foundation, the North East Combined Authority, and Arts Council England. It offers an award to three selected writers who live in Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland.
Winner Jessica Chen is a writer of fantasy fiction based in Newcastle. As a long-time obsessive of Chinese epics, she loves to share stories inspired by her culture.
She said: ‘I’m so grateful to win a Significant Ink award. To know that others have enjoyed my work and want to support me in reaching the next milestone really means the world.’
Ali Choudhary is a writer, poet and multi-disciplinary artist exploring the poetics of violence and intimacy. He is the recipient of the Eavan Boland Award, and was shortlisted for the Tempest Prize, part of the Northern Writers’ Awards. Ali is looking forward to developing a project on documentary poetics and folklore, as well as a novel exploring erotic transgression.
Claire Mi-Son Hennon is a former journalist who took up writing for children in lockdown. She has written for local papers and national magazines as well as working for a South Korean TV News station as a writer and editor.
She said: ‘I am so excited to develop my writing with a mentor and really push my manuscript forward. Just winning has already given me the confidence to go full steam ahead and submit my work to agents.’
July 22 2025
Winners announced at festival
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee has won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025, which was presented by Harrogate International Festivals on the opening night of the recent Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
Hunted is a thriller set in London and the US in the final week of a toxic presidential campaign, as two parents find themselves in a race against time – and the FBI – to track down their children who are suspected of terrorist atrocities.
Abir, who received a £3,000 prize, as well as an engraved beer cask handcrafted by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakston’s Brewery, said: “Hunted was a tough book to write – it took me four years – and it’s such a privilege that the judges and the readers have taken it to their hearts.”
Hunted was selected from a shortlist which also included The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre, The Mercy Chair by M.W. Craven, The Last Word by Elly Griffiths, Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney and All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker.
The McDermid Debut Award, named in recognition of crime writer Val McDermid, was won by David Goodman for A Reluctant Spy, a thriller about a tech executive who agrees to lend his identity to an elite intelligence agency in return for a helping hand through life.
David received a £500 cash prize. The award was presented by Chair of Judges, Val McDermid, and Simon Theakston, Chairman of T&R Theakston.
Bestselling novelist Elly Griffiths received the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her crime fiction writing career and “unwavering commitment to the genre.”
Elly is the author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries; the Brighton Mysteries, the Detective Harbinder Kaur series and a new series featuring time-travelling detective Ali Dawson.
A
Jasper Joffe cements its position as UK’s largest independent publisher with acquisition of The Book Folks
Jasper Joffe, the CEO of leading independent publisher Joffe Books, has acquired The Book Folks from previous owner Erik Empson for an undisclosed sum.
The purchase cements Joffe’s position as the UK’s largest independent fiction publisher by title count. In 2023, Joffe bought Lume and Choc Lit, and now publishes across all genres from romance to thrillers, from history to horror to action adventure.
Founded in 2014, The Book Folks specialises in high-quality crime fiction. All Book Folks members of staff will be retained. Joffe will be taking over the list of about 400 books and 40 authors, including crime writer John Dean, 25 of whose novels have been published by the publisher, primarily in the best-selling DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series.
Jasper Joffe said: “With this acquisition, Joffe Books continues its astonishing growth and our aim will be to increase sales in the same way we’ve achieved with Lume Books and Choc Lit.”
Erik Empson, who is pictured here, said: “Discovering great storytellers and making their books irresistible to the right readers is what good publishing is all about.
“I’m delighted to have found and helped shape such great talent, even if it kicks and screams some, and connected it with a large literary audience who are eager for more. We’ve always put our authors first and I believe that this transition does just that.”
In 2019, Joffe Books acquired the Robert Hale backlist from The Crowood Press, reissuing and revitalising the sales of authors including Roger Silverwood, Frances Lloyd, David Hodges and Bill Kitson, and in 2022, Joffe Books acquired Ostara Publishing, reissuing and rebranding such classic crime writers as D.M. Greenwood, V.C. Clinton-Baddeley, Frank McAuliffe and Ian Morson. These authors’ works now regularly feature in the Top 100 UK Kindle chart.
In 2023 Joffe bought Lume and Choc Lit. The overall digital sales of many titles have increased tenfold since the acquisitions.
