33-681: The CWA Gold Dagger is an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association of the United Kingdom since 1960 for the best crime novel of the year. From 1955 to 1959, the organization named their top honor as the Crossed Red Herring Award . From 1995 to 2002 the award acquired sponsorship from Macallan and was known as the Macallan Gold Dagger . In 2006, because of new sponsorship from
66-577: A century, as well as running the prestigious Daggers. In June every year, the CWA actively promotes National Crime Reading Month. The CWA was founded by John Creasey in 1953. It was chaired by Maxim Jakubowski (from April 2021) and has over 900 members. The chair, as of May 2023, was turned over to Vaseem Khan . The Secretary of the Crime Writers' Association is currently Dea Parkin, who also runs editorial consultancy Fiction Feedback. Jess Faraday
99-899: A distinguished selection of British writers published by Severn House . In 2013, the CWA anthology Deadly Pleasures was published and in 2015 an anthology of True Crime stories was released. Mystery Tour was published in December 2018, and Vintage Crime followed in 2020. John Creasey John Creasey MBE (17 September 1908 – 9 June 1973) was an English author known mostly for detective and crime novels but who also wrote science fiction, romance and westerns. He wrote more than six hundred novels using twenty-eight different pseudonyms. He created several ongoing characters, such as The Toff (The Honourable Richard Rollison), Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard , Inspector Roger West, The Baron (John Mannering), Doctor Emmanuel Cellini and Doctor Stanislaus Alexander Palfrey. Gideon of Scotland Yard
132-490: A full-time writer. In 1937 alone, twenty-nine of his books were published. A phenomenally fast writer, he once suggested that he could be shut up in a glass-box and write there a whole book. In 1938, he created the character The Toff with the first novel Introducing the Toff . The Toff series would continue for 59 novels from 1938 to 1978. The Toff, The Honourable Richard Rollison, is an aristocrat and an amateur sleuth. ("Toff"
165-494: A mind to eventually eliminate income tax. Creasey fought by-elections as an independent in support of this idea around 1967 at Nuneaton , Brierley Hill and Manchester Gorton . He also fought Oldham West during the by-election of June 1968. He did well for an independent with the first-past-the-post system, having limited resources and often little time to campaign. In Oldham West he beat his old party's candidate into fourth place. He could not seem to shed his affection for
198-493: A monthly magazine exclusively for members called Red Herrings , edited by Matthew Booth since 2020. The CWA runs a sister organisation aimed at readers of crime fiction and non-fiction called the Crime Reader's Association. Anyone can join free of charge and receive two digital magazines: the bimonthly Case Files and the monthly CRA Newsletter . On the site are blogs, short stories and author profiles. Annual membership
231-587: Is a British slang expression for an aristocrat.) During World War II, he created the character of Dr. Stanislaus Alexander Palfrey, a British secret service agent, who forms Z5, a secret underground group that owes its allegiance to the Allies. The first novel of the Dr. Palfrey 34-book series was Traitor's Doom , published in 1942 by John Long Ltd., while the last was The Whirlwind in 1979. Several adaptations were made of Creasey's novels. On film these included: Salute
264-498: Is a specialist authors' organisation in the United Kingdom, most notable for its "Dagger" awards for the best crime writing of the year, and the Diamond Dagger awarded to an author for lifetime achievement. The Association also promotes crime writing of fiction and non-fiction by holding annual competitions, publicising literary festivals and establishing links with libraries, booksellers and other writer organisations, both in
297-528: Is also editor of the CWA's anthology, a collection of stories by members usually published in alternate years. The Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards, the "UK's top crime writing awards", were started in 1955, less than two years after the association was founded, with the Crossed Red Herring given to Winston Graham for The Little Walls . Over the years, the number of CWA Daggers has increased. Eleven Daggers are now awarded annually by
330-506: Is an author and television producer, having served both in the private sector and at the BBC, and as the British producer of Patrick Watson 's worldwide Canadian television documentary series The Struggle for Democracy . He has developed his father's "Doctor Palfrey" series by penning a new series of techno-thrillers around the character of Doctor Thomas Palfrey. In 1953, John Creasey founded
363-428: Is not yet published. The CWA enables writers to contact each other by various means, promotes crime writing with annual awards, and organises social events. It also supports writing groups, festivals and literary events through its authors. The main aims of the CWA are to promote the crime genre and to support professional writers. The CWA has been providing social and professional support for its members for more than half
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#1732787329675396-424: Is open to any author who has had a crime novel published via a traditional publishing contract or to self-published authors who meet the membership criteria. Associate and corporate membership also offered to individuals and organisations in the publishing industry such as editors, bloggers, literary agents and publishers. Provisional membership is offered to authors who have a contract with a publisher but whose book
429-523: Is published in the UK in 2022, and self-published authors provided they are CWA members. The CWA has produced many collections of crime writing (mainly fiction, but occasionally true crime). The editor of the CWA anthology since 1996 has been Martin Edwards . In 2003, he edited a special collection, Mysterious Pleasures , to celebrate the CWA's Golden Jubilee. Original Sins is the 2010 anthology of crime from
462-609: Is the Membership Secretary. The day-to-day management of the organisation is by CJAM of Colchester and the CWA's official accountants and registered CWA address are at H W Fisher in William Road, London. CWA Archives are held at Gladstone's Library in Hawarden, North Wales. Archivist is Martin Edwards , who chaired the CWA from January 2017 to April 2019 – the longest-serving CWA chair since John Creasey. Edwards
495-540: The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) in the UK. The CWA New Blood Dagger is awarded in his memory, for first books by previously unpublished writers; sponsored by BBC Audiobooks, it includes a prize of £1000. This award was known previously as the John Creasey Memorial Dagger. His pseudonyms include: In addition, he wrote Westerns under the names of Ken Ranger, Tex Riley, William K. Reilly, and Jimmy Wilde. He also wrote Romantic novels under
528-604: The Duncan Lawrie Bank , the award was officially renamed as the Duncan Lawrie Dagger , and gained a prize fund of £20,000. It was the biggest crime-fiction award in the world in monetary terms. In 2008, Duncan Lawrie Bank withdrew its sponsorship of the awards. As a result, the top prize is again called the Gold Dagger without a monetary award. From 1969 to 2005, a Silver Dagger was awarded to
561-701: The Suez Crisis he resigned his membership. However, after the Orpington by-election success of 1962 and impressed with Jo Grimond 's leadership of the party he seemed to be reviving his Liberal activity. By January 1966 however, he had founded the All Party Alliance, a pressure group which sought to unite the best people from all parties. The platform of the All Party Alliance was based on running industry by councils made up of workers, managers, investors and government to avoid industrial action, with
594-623: The "Independent Democratic Alliance", which soon faded after Creasey's death, and its poor performance in the February 1974 general election . John Creasey features in the Look At Life film I Protest! where he is seen collecting signatures for a petition to lobby the government to take action against the number of deaths due to road accidents. Creasey was awarded the Member of the Order of
627-762: The British Empire (MBE) for services in the United Kingdom's National Savings Movement during World War II . The Young Gallery in Salisbury holds a collection of books, personal affects and objects relating to John Creasey as part of its collection. This was previously known as the John Creasey Museum, but now comes under the Young & Creasey Gallery Trust. The series was continued after Creasey's death by William Vivian Butler ("as J.J. Marric"): Four additional Z5 stories have been written by
660-619: The CWA, with Red Herring awards made for those who have made a significant contribution to the CWA or crime writing. The Dagger longlists are traditionally announced at the international literary convention CrimeFest in Bristol in May, the shortlists at a London event in the summer and the winners at a glittering Dagger awards dinner. From 2022, authors can now self-nominate for the Daggers. Traditionally published authors are eligible provided their book
693-610: The Liberal party however, congratulating Birmingham Ladywood by-election victor Wallace Lawler in July 1969 and attending the 1969 party assembly albeit to promote All Party Alliance aims. In 1972 he relaunched the All Party Alliance as Evolution to Democracy (Evo). Evo merged with Colin Campion's "The Organisation", a Yorkshire-based party which advocated coalition governments based on the proportion of votes cast for each party, to form
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#1732787329675726-537: The Liberals to an atypical second place. He was adopted as prospective parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth West in 1946 and appeared on the platform at the 1947 Liberal Assembly , which was held in Bournemouth. He fought Bournemouth West in the 1950 general election , coming third. He became increasingly unhappy with the party through the 1950s though and disagreed so much with the party's policy concerning
759-538: The Toff (1952, also known as Brighthaven Express in the USA), Hammer the Toff (1952), John Ford 's Gideon's Day (1958, also known as Gideon of Scotland Yard in the USA), released by Columbia Pictures , and Cat & Mouse (1958, also known as The Desperate Men in the USA), written as Michael Halliday. On television, a series based on the Commander George Gideon character, Gideon's Way ,
792-505: The UK such as the Society of Authors , and overseas. The CWA enables members to network at its annual conference and through its regional chapters as well as through dedicated social media channels and private website. Members' events and general news items are published on the CWA website, which also features Find An Author, where CWA members are listed and information provided about themselves, their books and their awards. The CWA publishes
825-637: The UK. After he finally broke into the American market in the 1950s, many of his books were released by Harper and Scribners; Walker reissued many older titles in the revised editions. During the 1940s, Creasey was living at "Cattistock", Fernlea Avenue, Ferndown , Wimborne in Dorset. He died at his home New Hall, which is now New Hall Hospital, Bodenham near Salisbury , Wiltshire in 1973. In March 2007, his family sold all of Creasey's copyrights to Fleming Literary Management . John's son Richard Creasey
858-457: The author's son Richard; in these, the central figure is Thomas Palfrey, the doctor's grandson: Eternity's Sunrise (2012); Hard Targets (2013, an omnibus of three shorter adventures – "Wings of Fear", "Burning Night" and "Deadly Sleep"). In the asterisked titles, Folly was added for the revised editions of novels originally written as standalones. Written under the pseudonym "Michael Halliday" for UK publication (1951–1955), but published under
891-422: The names of Margaret Cooke, M.E. Cooke, and Elise Fecamps. Creasey was a longtime committed Liberal party member though he later became an independent. He said that he had been organising Liberal street-corner meetings from the age of 12. At the time of the 1945 general election Creasey was Chairman of the local Liberal Association in Bournemouth where his publicity and writing skills were instrumental in helping
924-923: The only writer who has won the award under different names. Rendell and James Lee Burke were nominated a record five times, and they were surpassed only by Mick Herron with six. Abir Mukherjee is the most nominated author in this category without a single win (4 nominations). The Crime Writers' Association also awards the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction and several other "Dagger" awards. Winners and, where known, shortlisted titles for each year: The following individuals received two or more Gold Dagger awards: The following individuals received two or more Gold Dagger nominations: The following individuals received two or more Silver Dagger awards: The following individuals received both Gold and Silver Dagger awards: Crime Writers%27 Association The Crime Writers' Association ( CWA )
957-698: The role of West's wife Janet. In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), for Gideon's Fire , written under the pseudonym J. J. Marric. In 1969 he received the MWA's greatest honour, the Grand Master Award. He served one term as president of the organization in 1966, one of only three non-American writers to be so honoured. Creasey had as many publishers as he had pseudonyms, but enjoyed enduring relations with John Long and Hodder & Stoughton in
990-413: The runner-up. When Duncan Lawrie acquired sponsorship, this award was dropped. After the sponsorship was withdrawn, this award was not reinstated. Since its inception, the award has been given to 57 writers. Ruth Rendell has won the award a record four times, including two awards for the novels A Fatal Inversion and King Solomon's Carpet , published under the pseudonym Barbara Vine; this makes her
1023-520: Was educated at Fulham Elementary School and Sloane School, both in London. From 1923 to 1935 he worked various clerical, factory, and sales jobs while trying to establish himself as a writer. After a number of rejections, Creasey's first book was published in 1930. His first crime novel, Seven Times Seven , was published in January 1932 by Melrose. It was a story about a gang of criminals. In 1935 he became
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1056-448: Was produced from 1964 to 1965 by ITC Entertainment and starring John Gregson in the title rôle. ITC followed this with a version of Creasey's The Baron character (1965–66), starring Steve Forrest . Between 1967 and 1971 the BBC produced a radio version of Creasey's Roger West stories with actor Patrick Allen in the title role as Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Roger "Handsome" West, with Allen's real-life wife Sarah Lawson playing
1089-541: Was the basis for the television series Gideon's Way and for the John Ford movie Gideon's Day (1958). The Baron character was made into a 1960s TV series starring Steve Forrest as The Baron . John Creasey was born in Southfields , London Borough of Wandsworth (formerly part of Surrey), to a working-class family. He was the seventh of nine children of Ruth and Joseph Creasey, a poor coach maker. Creasey
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