Christie J Newport wins CrimeFest bursary for authors of colour

CrimeFest has awarded Christie J Newport its 2024 bursary for crime fiction writers of colour.

The bursary covers the cost of a full weekend pass to CrimeFest, taking place from 9th to 12th May, a night’s accommodation at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel and a guaranteed panel appearance.

Newport won the inaugural Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour in 2021, and has since published two titles with the publisher, The Raven’s Mark and The Ordinary Man. 

Newport, who lives in Northumberland, said: “Writing crime and psychological thrillers set in my home city is my passion. It’s always been my dream to witness a reader lost in the pages of one of my books. It’s a real honour to be awarded the bursary for CrimeFest.”

Emma Grundy Haigh, editorial director at Joffe Books, said: “I’m delighted that Christie has been chosen for the CrimeFest bursary. I can’t think of a more deserving author. Christie has a tremendous talent for creating brilliant characters and dark twisty mysteries that plunge the reader in at the deep-end.

“But she’s also incredibly generous and a wonderful advocate, in particular in supporting authors of colour throughout their own journey through publishing. She just keeps going from strength to strength and I’m so proud of everything she has achieved. I can’t wait to see her at CrimeFest.”

CrimeFest launched the bursary in 2021 with the inaugural award going to Saima Mir to attend the 2022, for her debut novel, The Khan (Point Blank).

Mir, who grew up in Bradford, said that the bursary allowed her to, “be inspired by the company of seasoned storytellers, to fulfil my childhood ambition, and to act as a beacon to other women who dare to dream of being published novelists, but fear the space is not for girls like them.”

2023’s bursary winner was Elizabeth Chakrabarty, whose critically-acclaimed debut crime novel Lessons in Love and Other Crimes (The Indigo Press) was inspired by her own experience of a serious racial hate crime in the workplace.

Donna Moore, co-host of CrimeFest, said: “The bursary is an important addition to CrimeFest, and one we are committed to build on. As a democratic convention open to all commercially published authors in the genre, CrimeFest is a natural hotbed for diverse talent. We’re aware, however, that more needs to be done to ensure festivals and conventions actively support writers of colour.”

Nominees for the bursary were reviewed by Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) chair and author Vaseem Khan, and the freelance crime fiction critic and CWA judge, Ayo Onatade.