I wanted to share some exciting news with everyone here. My mystery manuscript has officially been selected as a finalist for the Claymore Award — a major honor in the mystery and thriller writing world. The Claymore Award is presented each year at the Killer Nashville Writers Conference. It highlights outstanding unpublished mystery, thriller, suspense, and crime fiction manuscripts. Hundreds of writers submit their work, and finalists are chosen for exceptional storytelling, strong investigative craft, and the kind of plotting that keeps readers turning pages. Finalists are also promoted directly to agents and publishers, which can open real doors in the industry. My manuscript placed as a finalist in the Best Investigator category, and I’m incredibly proud of that. It’s a meaningful recognition of the work, and I’m excited to share this milestone with all of you. Thank you for letting me be part of this wonderful group. I’ll keep you posted as we get closer to the August awards ceremony.

Many, many entries this cycle, well beyond what we had anticipated, and the standard of the writing has made winnowing the longlist unusually difficult. Thank you to everyone who trusted us with their opening pages. The quality was so high that the commended list is longer than in previous cycles. We are releasing the names in no particular order, over the coming days, and a shortlist will be drawn from this group. Today, in no particular order, we are announcing: - Lies on Sale by Gabby Martini - The Impossibility of Eden by Harry Wilson - Beach Dog by Tom McDonough - The Breaking Point by Fiona Harriet - The Taste of Iron by Ramona Slusarczyk - Askar and the Witch by Nina van der Beek - The City of a Thousand Eyes by Angelique Talbot - The Melusine Murders by Jesse Weiner Congratulations to all of them. Many further entries, equally commended, will be announced over the coming days. If your name is not yet here, please don't read into its absence. Names are being released in the order we can write the posts, which has nothing to do with preference, and every remaining commendation carries the same weight as those above.

A little celebration that I hope doesn’t break any rules… my novel, Perotine, was one of the top ten shortlisted in last year’s competition. It was subsequently picked up by a small publisher, and launches on Tuesday. This weekend, I’ve travelled from Jersey (home) to Gloucester to give two talks and then in the coming weeks I’ve got two appearances at home, plus a trip to the Guernsey Literary festival to discuss the book. In May, I’m also making several appearances in Wales. Exciting and very busy times! 📚 I’ve also dropped my Marlowe and C placement in several times in my promo. 😄 Good luck to everyone, this year!

The first part of the list will be published here tomorrow!