Amazon Publishing sponsors Capital Crime's 2021 New Voices Award

Amazon Publishing will sponsor Capital Crime's 2021 New Voices Award sponsored by Amazon Publishing with a £1,000 cash prize and potential publication.

The prize ran previously in 2019 during the inaugural Capital Crime festival in London but this is the first year it has been sponsored and carries such a comprehensive prize package. The winner of the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award will receive complimentary registration to the next Capital Crime Festival; a £1,000 cash prize, a trophy and potential offer of publication from Thomas & Mercer, the mystery and thriller imprint of Amazon Publishing. Additionally, 10 finalists will be considered for a potential offer of publication from the imprint, while also receiving day passes to the next Capital Crime Festival. It is open to unpublished mystery, thriller, and crime fiction manuscripts in English from writers around the world.

The annual festival was the brainchild of British screenwriter Adam Hamdy and Goldsboro Books m.d. David Headley. Its inaugural event took place in September 2019 at the Connaught Rooms in London, featuring Kate Atkinson, Robert Harris, David Baldacci, Ian Rankin and Ann Cleeves. The 2020 festival then had to be called off last year owing to lockdown restrictions however organisers launched a monthly subscription service, providing two curated paperbacks alongside exclusive author content and access to community activities.

Amazon Publishing editor Victoria Haslam and Thomas & Mercer debut author Tariq Ashkanani (pictured), of thriller Welcome to Cooper (Thomas & Mercer), will serve alongside Capital Crime’s Advisory Board on the judging panel for the award.

Haslam says: “At Amazon Publishing, we’re particularly keen to see New Voices Award entries from underrepresented writers who’ll bring diverse perspectives to the mystery, crime, and thriller genre. I can’t wait to find new stories from around the world that our readers will love.”

Headley said: “The Amazon Publishing New Voices Award is a brilliant opportunity for aspiring writers to raise awareness and receive recognition for their work.”

Hamdy added: “We’re excited to engage and support the next generation of talent. This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to have their work represented and published.”

The 2019 New Voices Award received almost 1,000 entries from around the world, with writers from countries including the UK, the US, France, Sweden, Japan, Bangladesh, China, Brazil, Denmark and Indonesia submitting their English-language crime fiction for consideration.

To enter the Amazon Publishing New Voices Award writers must submit the first three chapters of an unpublished mystery, thriller, or crime fiction manuscript as a PDF, as well as an entry fee of £10, to Capital Crime’s submission portal by 3rd August. There will be a voting period where members of the Capital Crime community (both Book Club members and festival pass-holders) will be able to vote for their favourites online. The 10 most popular entries will form a shortlist to be announced in September 2021, after which the judges will select the winner to be announced in October 2021.

Winners and finalists will also be celebrated at the next Capital Crime Festival in London, the details of which have not yet been confirmed.