Val McDermid wins CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger

Val McDermid was 'gobsmacked' to win the CWA Cartier Diamond today, but her fans and friends weren't surprised. We knew it was only a matter of time. Val won the CWA Gold Dagger in 1995 for best crime novel of the year for The Mermaids Singing. Fever of the Bone is the sixth novel in this series and inspired Wire in the Blood. Last year saw Val was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards. Val has won the Anthony, Macavity, Barry, Dilys and a host of other awards.

The prestigious CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award honors outstanding achievement in the field of crime writing. The announcement was made by the Crime Writers’ Association in recognition of Val’s work over more than 20 years.

Margaret Murphy, chair of the CWA, said: “The CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger award acknowledges the work of an author who has made an outstanding contribution to the genre. Val McDermid is a worthy winner whose work has entertained and thrilled millions of readers as well as many more who have enjoyed the TV adaptations her books have inspired.”

“The recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award is chosen by the members and committee of the CWA and is very much an honour awarded by the author’s peers and thus makes it special.”

The prize will be presented at a ceremony yet to be confirmed. Read more HERE.

I feel especially pleased for Val whom I count among my friends. I first met her in 1989 at the IACW Crime Writers Conference in Semana Negra in Gijon, Spain. It was so much fun to hang out with her there. Val was Awarded the Macavity, Mystery Readers International's award, in 2001 (for 2000 novel). Here's what she wrote about winning the Macavity Award:

'Bouchercon kicked off formally with an opening ceremony and awards celebration, at which I was awarded the Macavity for Best Crime Novel of 2000 for A Place of Execution. The accolade is voted on by the members of Mystery Readers International, and it was a particular thrill for me to win it because the very first event I ever did with US readers was at an MRI event at the home of Janet Rudolph, who runs MRI and edits its prestigious Mystery Readers Journal. It was Janet and her fellow enthusiasts who persuaded me to attend my first Bouchercon in 1994, and that was the convention that marked the real start of my building a US readership. I came away from that Bouchercon with a contract for paperback publication of the Kate Brannigan novels and a deal with Spinsters Ink for the Lindsay Gordons. So it felt almost like coming full circle to win the Macavity.'

Read my interview with Val McDermid about the production of Place of Execution

Way to go, Val!!! Bring on the Champagne.. or the Lager!