Harrison wins Capital Crime New Voices Award

Ashley Harrison has won the Capital Crime New Voices Award as the crime festival launched last night. 

Harrison was named the winner of the New Voices Award for The Dysconnect with Victoria Goldman and Patti Buff named runner-up at the festival’s opening night cocktail party last night (Thursday 26th September).

In association with D H H Literary Agency, the award champions the next generation of talent in the crime and thriller community and gives entrants the chance to have three opening chapters of their debut novel read by agents, publishers and readers, who voted for their favourites.

Capital Crime co-founder and D H H founder, David Headley, said: "At D H H we’re always on the lookout for talented new authors. The New Voices Award is an exciting competition that gives readers the power to help identify new talent. It promises to be a brilliant platform for aspiring writers."

The inuagural Capital Crime festival invested in an entry and voting system, which allowed hopeful writers the chance to submit the three opening chapters of their unpublished manuscript for review. Entries were uploaded to Capital Crime’s website, where festival pass holders read and voted for their favourite entries.

Capital Crime co-founder, screenwriter and author, Adam Hamdy, added: "We’re excited to offer a platform to engage and support aspiring writers. This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to have their work represented and published. I wish this had been around when I started writing!”

The festival will take place at the Grand Connaught Rooms until Saturday 28th September with more than 40 panels across the event featuring debut authors and established names including Lynda La Plante, Martina Cole, Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Mark Billingham, Don Winslow, Robert Glenister, Adenle, Denise Mina, Catherine Steadman and Abir Mukherjee.