The Crime Writers' Association to launch exciting new initiatives for crime fiction fans in 2012

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA),  is to launch a new initiative, the Crime Readers’ Association (CRA) in 2012 and is expanding the Crime Writing Week to an entire month in June.

The CRA will launch in February 2012 with a new website, the url is yet to be confirmed. The site will offer readers information about forthcoming crime books, interviews with crime authors and features by CWA member authors. An e-newsletter is also lined up, with plans to organise events for readers to meet authors.

National Crime Writing Week is also set to expand to a month of activities in bookshops, libraries and arts centres. Last year I was delighted to run a Crime Writing Workshop at the Quay Arts Centre in Newport on the Isle of Wight.

National Crime Writing Month will begin at the Bristol-based Crimefest event, where I will be appearing on a panel. Crimefest runs from May 24th-27th 2012. National Crime Writing Month will conclude with the CWA Dagger awards. The date for the event is to be confirmed. I was also very proud to have been longlisted for the Dagger in the Library Award.

Pauline Rowson centre on the panel at Crimefest 2011

I'm looking forward to both these initiatives and will certainly be posting further details here and on my web site as soon as I have them.