During the course of last week, I submitted the opening three chapters of my WIP (work in progress), “The Kerning”, to the Capital Crime New Voices Award.

Voting for this award closed at midnight last night. I now eagerly await to hear if I have made the shortlist. The winner will be announced at the opening night of the crime writing weekend next Thursday.

Whoever is deemed the winner, they can be very chuffed as the entries can be viewed – and voted for – only by attendees of the festival. So, as it is a crime fiction weekend with a staggering number of leading authors, publicists, agents, publishers and crime reading fans attending, the win will be hard won. And fully deserved.

One entry blew me away with its plot, pacing, dialogue and the way in which it gently dropped snippets of backstory into its three chapters. It was deftly done, with gorgeous prose and well crafted characters. I hope it does well. It certainly got my vote.

Look out for “The Last Bird” by D.C. Smith.