New CrimeFest Awards for Children's & YA Crime Fiction

I'm very excited about this news regarding CrimeFest's new awards for Children's and YA Crime Fiction. I know from my own experience as a librarian and a reader/reviewer of YA fiction that it's an increasingly popular field.

I recently snapped this collection of recently released children's crime titles at the library:

Here's how to submit the titles for consideration.

CRIMEFEST LAUNCHES AWARD FOR BEST YA & CHILDREN’S CRIME NOVELS

CrimeFest opens free submissions from crime fiction books for children and young adults published in 2016

CrimeFest is delighted to announce two new awards:

• Best Crime Novel for Children (ages 8-12)
• Best Crime Novel for Young Adults (ages 12-16)

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

CrimeFest, the UK’s biggest international crime fiction convention, is thrilled to introduce two new awards recognising the outstanding contribution that crime novels for children and young adults make to the genre, as well as the burgeoning interest of children’s fiction and YA throughout literature. The winners for best crime novels for children and young adults in 2016 will receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award, presented at the CrimeFest gala awards dinner on Saturday 20^th May, 2017.

There is no charge for submissions in order to encourage all publishers, regardless of size, to submit titles published for the first time in the British Isles in 2016. A team of British reviewers of YA and children’s fiction will establish the shortlist and winner from titles spanning humorous crime, spy, suspense, thriller and more.

Continuing last year’s successful CrimeFest promotion where 1000 crime fiction books were given away for free through local libraries, all books provided as part of the submission process will be distributed amongst schools in Bristol. After nine years of hosting CrimeFest, the organisers continue to involve the local community in the city that has hosted this top convention.

On behalf of his CRIMEFEST co-hosts, Adrian Muller said: “We have become increasingly aware that there are some great authors who are writing brilliant, age-appropriate crime fiction for children and young adults. They are making an outstanding contribution to the genre, as well as celebrating the burgeoning interest of children in fiction as a whole, and we felt these efforts should not go unrecognised.”

In addition to this year’s new awards, YA crime fiction heavyweight Antony Horowitz, of Alex Rider fame, is one of CrimeFest’s guest speakers at this year’s event.

The new prizes join the convention’s established awards for adults:

• Audible Sounds of Crime Award (for best crime audiobook)
• eDunnit Award (for best crime ebook)
• Last Laugh Award (for best humorous crime novel)
• H.R.F. Keating Award (for biography or critical book related to crime fiction)

 THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

CRIMEFEST, the international crime fiction convention held annually in Bristol, draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world, and gives all delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly, informal and inclusive atmosphere.

For full submission guidelines see below or visit the CRIMEFEST website:
- Best Crime Novel for Children (ages 8-12)
- Best  Crime Novel for Young Adults (ages 12-16)

For any queries, please contact CrimeFest. Telephone: 0117-9737829. Email info@crimefest.com.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Best Crime Novel for Children (ages 8-12)

Eligible are any humorous crime, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc. commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the British Isles in 2016. The age group for this award is 8–12 years.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

For submitted titles to be eligible, the four print copies of each title must be received by 17 March. Please send to: CRIMEFEST, BASEMENT FLAT, 6 Rodney Place, Bristol BS8 4HY.

A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to childfiction@crimefest.com and should be listed in field names as follows:

First name – last name – title – month – publisher

(Example: Joe – Bloggs – The Hangman’s Noose – Murder Press – May)

The above details can be submitted in the body of an email or attached in an email as text, rich-text-format, Word or Excel files. The preferred method is an attached Excel file

All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.

By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide a further five copies of a title should it be shortlisted. These will be for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.

Should the winner or a representative not be present to collect the prizes, then the publisher agrees to reimburse CRIMEFEST for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.


Best Crime Novel for Young Adults (ages 12-16)

Eligible are any humorous crime, spy, suspense and thriller titles, etc. commercially published in hardback or paperback format for the first time in the British Isles in 2016. The age group for the award is 12–16 years.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017.

For submitted titles to be eligible, the four print copies of each title must be received by 17 March. Please send to: CRIMEFEST, BASEMENT FLAT, 6 Rodney Place, Bristol BS8 4HY.

A list of entries and their details should be submitted by email to ya@crimefest.com and should be listed in field names as follows:

First name – last name – title – month – publisher

(Example: Joe – Bloggs – The Hangman’s Noose – Murder Press – May)

The above details can be submitted in the body of an email or attached in an email as text, rich-text-format, Word or Excel files. The preferred method is an attached Excel file.

All entries must be accompanied by the publisher’s contact details.

By submitting entries, publishers agree to provide a further five copies of a title should it be shortlisted. These will be for promotional purposes and/or as prizes.

Should the winner or a representative not be present to collect the prizes, then the publisher agrees to reimburse CRIMEFEST for the cost of shipping the prizes to the recipient or the publisher.