CWA creates festival liaison role

The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) has created the role of festival liaison officer to strengthen the links between crime writers and literary festivals. The role will be shared between authors Isabelle Grey and William Shaw who can be contacted at festivals@thecwa.co.uk.

Martin Edwards, chair of the CWA, said: “The number and quality of festivals is growing rapidly, throughout the UK and overseas. The huge popularity of crime writing means we want to increase opportunities for readers to meet our members. In addition to dedicated crime writing festivals, there are already many literary and arts festivals where crime writers take part. Isabelle and William are not only leading crime writers but also regular participants in crime festivals, while William has experience of organising festivals in the south of England."

The creation of the role follows the CWA’s previous appointment of three Libraries Champions - crime writers Priscilla Masters, John Dean and Jan Newton - and a Booksellers’ Champion, Scottish author Aline Templeton, “connecting crime writers with libraries, bookshops and the reading public”.