CWA DIAMOND DAGGER: Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley is the 2023 recipient of the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger. Congratulations!

The Diamond Dagger recognizes authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre.

From the CWA Website:

One of the most versatile and admired writers in America, Walter Mosley was born and raised in Los Angeles, and now lives in Brooklyn and LA. Walter Mosley is the author of more than 60 critically acclaimed books, that cover a wide range of genres. His work has been translated into 25 languages.

He brought a cast of crime fiction characters into the American canon with his first novel, Devil in a Blue Dress, featuring private detective, Easy Rawlins. Several of his books have been adapted for screen, including Devil in a Blue Dress starring Denzel Washington, the HBO production of Always Outnumbered, starring Laurence Fishburne and Natalie Cole, and Apple TV+’s production of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey starring Samuel Jackson.

Maxim Jakubowski, Chair of the CWA, said: “I am truly delighted my friend Walter has been deemed worthy of the Diamond Dagger by my colleagues and members of the CWA. His voice has dominated the fiction scene for decades and I can think of no more deserving and ground-breaking an author to be given this ultimate accolade, for the so many things he has contributed to our genre but also to modern society.”
A multi-award-winning author, Mosley was inducted into the New York State Writers Hall of Fame in 2013. His numerous awards include The Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, a Grammy, and a PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, he was named the recipient of the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement from Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, and the National Book Foundation presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Walter Mosley said: “At the beginning of my writing career I was fortunate enough to be awarded the CWA’s New Blood Dagger, otherwise called the John Creasey Award. That was the highest point of my experience as a first book author.  Since then, I have picked up other honours along the way but the only award that comes near the Diamond Dagger is the MWA’s Grand Master nod.  These two together make the apex of a career that I never expected.”

 

CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award: Lindsey Davis

Crime Writers Association (UK) just announced that the Diamond Dagger was awarded to Lindsey Davis!

The award from the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA), which is sponsored by Cartier, honors outstanding achievement in the field of crime writing.The award, the 26th time the Dagger has been presented, will be presented by Cartier UK’s Executive Chairman Arnaud Bamberger at a date and venue yet to be arranged.

Hat Tip: Shots: The Crime & Thriller Ezine

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!