Lee Child to judge Black Spring Press Crime Book Prize

 

The Black Spring Crime Series is delighted to announce that the inaugural judge for its new crime-mystery prize will be Lee Child, world-famous, best-selling author of the Jack Reacher series, whose books have sold over 100 million copies.

Lee Child says, ‘Long ago people would say, “This is a great book, but you need to give it fifty pages.” That's crazy now, in our hyper-fast world. Now readers give you fifty words. Your first paragraph, basically. That's where you win or lose. It doesn't always need to be slam-bam, but it does always need to give the reader absolutely no choice but to race ahead. Send your entry in to Black Spring's contest, I’ll judge the best... and if you win, I'll be first in line to buy your book.’ 

The competition –

The Big Bang: Black Spring's Best Opening to a Crime/Thriller Prize - is open to anyone over the age of 18 who wants to write in the English-language and has an interest in crime, thriller or mystery novels.

We are looking for the best 50-200 words of an ‘opening’ for a crime-mystery-thriller novel/story. The work must be never-before-published (including online), original to the author, and ideally written for this prize. It need not be connected to a completed book. Indeed, we very much hope the prize encourages people to start a novel, with this first page – and maybe go on to complete it. Writers can enter as many times as they want.

The contest opened on September 7th and will close on December 7th. All submission info can be found at the blackspringcrimeseries.com website.

Black Spring Crime Series

Founded in 1985, The Black Spring Press list had published literary classics and major figures, including Leonard Cohen, Orson Welles, Anais Nin, Momus, Carolyn Cassady, Charles Baudelaire, Nick Cave, and many more.

Black Spring Press Director Dr Todd Swift has formed the new imprint following the hire of consultant crime editor Luca Veste. He says “Black Spring has been publishing darkly twisted and genius writers since the 1980s and think we can put a fascinating spin on the crime genre with our upcoming slate of titles.”

The first title published under the new imprint has just been released ‘A Crime in the Land of 7,000 Islands’ by Zephaniah Sole – described as Silence of the Lambs fused with Grimm’s Fairy Tales. International bestselling author Stuart Neville said of the novel “an extraordinary feat of storytelling, blending the real and the fantastical, with a hard-edged crime procedural woven through the rich imagery of a child's imagination.” Zephaniah Sole is the pseudonym for a working FBI Agent, with the novel dripping with rich reality, with fantastical elements complimenting it throughout.

Upcoming releases include hard-hitting detective novel The Scotsman by Rob McClure, Jasper’s Brood by JK Nottingham – a dark and twisting narrative with a main character you’ll struggle to forget, and The Winter of Shadows by Clare Grant – a historical crime novel with a delicious premise and incredible writing.

Consultant crime editor Luca Veste – the bestselling author of nine novels including Dead Gone, The Bone Keeper, and You Never Said Goodbye – says “Working with the team at Black Spring Press in the creation of this new imprint has been a dream so far. After reading A Crime in the Land of 7,000 Islands, I knew I had to work with this press and couldn’t be more delighted to be a part of what promises to be a crime publisher and imprint like no other. Originality is what we’re looking for and with our soon to be released titles, we believe crime fiction lovers will find new and fresh voices and stories they may not have experienced before. It’s an honour and a privilege to be a part of the Black Spring Crime team bringing this to life.”

More information can be found at www.blackspringpressgroup.com and on Twitter @BlackSpringC

To contact Luca Veste – lucaveste@gmail.com

For any press/interview enquiries for authors or Black Spring, contact Amira - amira.eyewearpublishing@gmail.com or blackspringcrime@gmail.com

List of upcoming releases…

A Crime in the Land of 7,000 Islands – Zephaniah Sole – Out Now

The Scotsman – Rob McClure – July 2023

Creative Justice – Tristan Walker – August 2023

Jasper’s Brood – JK Nottingham – September 2023

The Winter of Shadows – Clare Grant – October 2023

After Uyuni – CJ Howell – November 2023

Expiation – Steve Welsh – January 2024