The Barking Crow!

I'm absolutely delighted that one of my crime fiction students, the wonderful Niamh Brennan, has been long listed for...

No Exit Press Short Story Writing Competition 

Devised as part of the celebrations for 30 years of Oldcastle Books, the competition was open to any unpublished writer with a passion for crime fiction. The intention was to find original voices that epitomise the No Exit Press List: strong, compelling writing that resonates long after the final page.

All the participants should be congratulated on their engaging and original entries, but the writers who have made it through to the longlist are:

Rachel Wolfreys – Vagrant Heart

Philip Willans – The Suspect

Niamh Brennan – The Barking Crow

Marie Henderson-Brennan – The Power of Four

Eric T Johnsson – Clay

Ian Robinson – Rubicon

Liz Kershaw – The Valentine Murders

Sarah Mclean – A Piece

Tom Leins - The Brief History of Bad Men

The judging panel, headed by Oldcastle Books MD Ion Mills, includes bestselling author of the Geraldine Steel and Ian Peterson series, Leigh Russell; A is for Authors literary agent, Annette Crossland and one of Britain's finest noir critics, Barry Forshaw, author of Nordic Noir and Euro Noir.

The shortlist will be announced on September 1st and the winner, who will have the opportunity to meet with Barry Forshaw, Leigh Russell and Annette Crossland, with the possibility of being signed by No Exit Press, will be announced on November 1st.