HQ unveils new crime writing prize for unagented Scottish writers

HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins, has announced the launch of a new £10,000 competition to find an unagented Scottish writer writing Scotland-set crime novels.

The prize is in partnership with the Times and the Sunday Times in Scotland, Bloody Scotland, and 42 Management and Production.

For the purposes of the prize, a crime novel is eligible if the author was born, raised, is a permanent resident in, or has a strong and enduring connection to Scotland. The judging panel comprises author and Bloody Scotland board member Abir Mukherjee, Eugenie Furniss and Emily MacDonald from 42, David McCann, deputy editor for the Times and the Sunday Times Scotland, and HQ fiction publisher for crime and thrillers Manpreet Grewal.

Entrants can enter the competition by submitting a 500-word synopsis along with the first 5,000 – 10,000 words of their manuscript and a 200-word author biography to HQPrize@harpercollins.co.uk. 

Submissions are open from 1st July 2023 until 30th October 2023. The six-strong shortlist will be announced in January 2024, with the winner due to be announced in March 2024. The winner will have their book published by HQ. They will also receive a £10,000 advance, plus agent representation from 42.

Mukherjee said: “It is great to see a new prize encouraging Scottish people from all backgrounds to try their hand at crime writing. A new and diverse range of voices and stories reflecting the true depth and breadth of what it means to be Scottish is essential to the health and growth of our fiction, and so it is vital that publishers cast their net widely when looking for new authors. As a Scottish crime writer and member of the Bloody Scotland board I am delighted that we are partnering with HQ to make that happen.”

Grewal said: "We are thrilled to be announcing this exciting new prize, aimed at discovering new Scottish talent in the crime genre. This is a vital prize that will help broaden the depth of storytelling available in this already rich genre, and we’re very grateful to be working with such terrific and dedicated partners to achieve our goal. I’m so looking forward to welcoming a wonderful new writer to the HQ crime list.”

Furniss said: “Some of my all-time favourite writers come from Scotland, and I feel as though Scotland has a particularly rich literary heritage. Emily and I are excited to join to hunt for a talented new voice in the crime arena, and to work with the winner on building a literary career.”