BE A SLEUTH WITH THE THEAKSTONS OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL….
Press Release
EMBARGOED UNTIL 17TH MAY 2007
The longlist was announced today for the 3rd Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award, the only literary prize of its kind to be voted for by the general public. To mark this occasion, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate is launching a special web-based competition.
Won by Mark Billingham in 2005 and Val McDermid in 2006, the longlist once again features an eclectic mix of new writers and big names with crime novels across the genre, from historical, to police procedural to psychological.
To mark the announcement and for the first time, The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival have created a special web ‘whodunit’; Challenging crime fans across the globe to solve a mystery written exclusively for the Festival by celebrated crime author, Natasha Cooper.
Selected by Waterstone’s booksellers, this year’s longlist represents the very best in crime writing. Sharon Canavar, Operations Director of the Festival today said; “This is the readers chance to choose the six shortlisted books from a fantastic range representing the very best in crime writing. From PD James and Ruth Rendell to exciting new writers such as Nick Stone and Sophie Hannah.”
Sponsor Simon Theakston, commented; “With each year this competition becomes more exciting and I for one cannot wait to start reading the books that have been nominated. We are very proud to be associated with this award and are delighted to see that the longlist once again features a strong mix of newcomers well known authors. Now it is up to the public to decide who is on the shortlist.”
Votes for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
can be cast at any of Waterstone’s branches in England, Scotland and Wales, or by visiting www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime where further information about the prize and the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival can also be found.
Clues for the ‘Whodunit?’ competition will appear on www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime as well as at www.theakstons.co.uk and www.waterstones.com from 17th May over the next 6 weeks. Budding sleuths will be invited to email their final suspect at the end of the tale.
The reward for the competition winner is an exclusive prize including a full weekend package to the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate plus a personal tour of the Theakstons brewery in Masham by Executive Director, Simon Theakston.
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For further information, interviews or photos please contact Lizzie Forbes-Ritte on (01423) 562303 or email
Notes for Editors
1. Photo Caption
2. Longlist
3. Voting details & full prize list for web competition
4. Theakstons Old Peculier
5. Waterstones
6. Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival details
1. Photo caption: Harrogate Internationl Festival, Chief Executive, William Culver-Dodds and title sponsor Simon Theakston, Executive Director of Theakstons Brewery.
2. Theakstons Old Peculier Prize for the Crime Novel of the Year 2007
Long List
1. Dead Place Stephen Booth HarperCollins
2. All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses and Eye
Christopher Brookmyre Little, Brown
3. Death of a Chancellor David Dickinson Constable & Robinson
4. Never Go Back Robert Goddard Transworld
5. Two Way Split Allan Guthrie Birlinn
6.Little Face Sophie Hannah Hodder & Stoughton
7. Ash & Bone John Harvey Random House Arrow
8. The Stranger House Reginald Hill HarperCollins
9. The Pure in Heart Susan Hill Random House Vintage
10. Blood and Honey Graham Hurley Orion
11. The Lighthouse PD James Penguin
12. The Death Ship of Dartmouth Michael Jecks Headline
13. Cold Granite Stuart MacBride HarperCollins
14. The Train Excursion Edward Marston Allison & Busby
15. Ratcatcher James McGee HarperCollins
16. After the Armistice Ball Catriona McPherson Constable & Robinson
17. Dance With Death Barbara Nadel Headline
18. Jacquot and the Angel Martin O’Brien Headline
19. End in Tears Ruth Rendell Random House Arrow
20. Mr Clarinet Nick Stone Penguin
Open to any crime novel by a British author published for the first time in paperback in 2006 and promoted by the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate, it is the only prize of its kind to be voted for by the general public.
Voting will continue for the next month online and in-store at Waterstone’s bookshops to determine the six shortlisted books. After that, voting will recommence, with the public vote forming part of a panel vote on Thursday 19th July, where reading groups and also crime aficionados will determine the winner, which will be announced at the opening event of the Theakston’s Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival that evening.
The winner will receive £3,000, plus a handmade, engraved beer barrel from Award sponsors Theakstons Old Peculier. T R Theakstons Executive Director Simon Theakston today said: “We are delighted to be the sponsor of this prestigious literary award especially after the success of last year. The long-list includes some very well known names and we hope that the many thousands of readers who voted last year will do so again, with as much enthusiasm.”
Prizes for web competition:
Ø Full weekend package to 2007 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, including tickets and accommodation
Ø Exclusive tea with Natasha Cooper
Ø Signed original of the web story
Ø Personal Tour of the Theakstons Brewery in Masham by Simon Theakstons plus a two night stay at the Kings Head, Masham
Ø The 20 longlisted novels
3. Theakstons Old Peculier Prize for the Crime Novel of the Year 2007 key dates:
v 17th May 2007: Long list of 20 announced and voting opens in Waterstone’s stores nationwide online details to be finalised
v 17th June2007: Voting on long list closes
v Shortlist announced and voting panel put together
v Thursday 19th July: Winner announced at award’s ceremony on Festival’s opening night
4. Theakstons Old Peculier
One of the country’s most famous and highly regarded traditional ale brewers, Theakstons was established in Masham, North Yorkshire in 1827 by Robert Theakston, In the 1980s the company was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle plc but now operates as an independent brewer since the Theakston family regained control of the company in Autumn 2003.
True to its traditional heritage, Theakstons is one of the few brewers in the country that still employs a cooper crafting wooden casks in which the beers mature. There are five permanent brands in the Theakstons range including the iconic Old Peculier – its best-known beer with a rich, dark flavour, celebrated by ale enthusiasts all over Britain and around the world. Also available from Theakstons are XB, Best Bitter, Mild and Black Bull bitter, along with a range of seasonal ales designed to provide variety and choice.
The Theakston brewery Visitor Centre is open all year round except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – see web site for details www.theakstons.co.uk
5. Waterstone's is the UK's largest specialist bookseller, with over320 branches across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and branches on the Isle of Man and Jersey, and in Amsterdam and Brussels. In 2006 www.waterstones.comwas launched as a bookseller-driven website, offering customers a range of content unavailable from any other online bookseller.Started in 1982, Waterstone'scelebrates 25 Years in Books in 2007, and looks forward to many more to come.
6. The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is a celebration of the best in crime fiction. It runs from 19 – 22 July at the Crown Hotel, Harrogate. Tickets are available now on 0845 1308840. It is promoted by the north of England’s leading arts festival, Harrogate International Festival which was founded in 1966. Set in the attractive floral spa resort at the gateway to the North Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate is forever known as the town where the great crime novelist Agatha Christie disappeared and Sherlock Holmes’ creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle regularly visited.
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Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2007 Longlist announcement
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