THEAKSTON’S OLD PECULIER PRIZE FOR THE CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

Building on the success of the Theakston’s Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival we are pleased to announce a new national literary award: the Theakston's Old Peculier Prize for the Crime Novel of the Year, in association with Ottakar’s Bookshops.

Taking its place in the literary awards calendar, the Theakston’s Old Peculier Prize will celebrate the broad spectrum of crime fiction and is the only British crime fiction prize to be voted for by the general public. With a prize of £3,000 on offer, the award is open to full-length crime or mystery novels by British authors published in A or B format paperback in the UK between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004.

Following the announcement of the long list on 1 April 2005, cCrime readers nationwide will be able to vote for their favourite book in Ottakar’s stores and website until 31 May. The shortlist of six will be announced on 13 June and public voting will continue until 15 July. The six finalists will be invited to attend the Festival’s opening night on Thursday 21 July when the winner of the Theakston’s Old Peculier Prize will be announced.

The 2005 Festival takes place from 21 – 24 July 2005 and authors already confirmed include Ruth Rendell, Michael Connelly and Alexander McCall Smith. The event is the largest forum for crime writing in Europe and attracts writers and enthusiasts from all over the world. The four days are packed with back-to-back events including best-selling authors in conversation, forensic and true crime specialists, panel games and late night cabaret.

Simon Theakston Director of T& R Theakston said “I am both pleased and excited to be formally launching my company’s sponsorship of the Theakston’s Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. I very much hope that our association with this event will be a long and successful one for all concerned. We are also pleased to support literary excellence with the launch of the Theakston’s Old Peculier Prize for the Crime Novel of the Year. Theakston is proud to be associated with what will hopefully become a sought-after and prestigious literary award.”

William Culver-Dodds, Festival Director said “The announcement of the Theakston’s Old Peculier Prize has been met with great support from the publishing industry and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to initiate such an exciting project with the support of our sponsor Theakston’s Old Peculier.”

For press information please contact

Lizzie Forbes-Ritte, Press and PR / Tel: 01423 562303 / Email: lizzie@harrogate-festival.org.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Long List

Stuart Pawson Limestone Cowboy
Barbara Cleverly The Damascened Blade
Andrew Taylor The American Boy
Stephen Booth Blind to the Bones
Val McDermid The Distant Echo
Reginald Hill Good Morning, Midnight
Michael Jecks The Outlaws of Ennor
Morag Joss Half Broken Things
Minette Walters Disordered Minds
C J Sansom Dissolution
Ian Rankin A Question of Blood
Kate Ellis The Plague Maiden
Lindsey Davis The Accusers
Lee Jackson A Metropolitan Murder
Sarah Rayne Tower of Silence
Alexander McCall Smith The Full Cupboard of Life
Peter Lovesey The House Sitter
Mark Billingham Lazy Bones
Robert Edric Cradle Song
Simon Kernick The Murder Exchange

Theakston’s Old Peculier Prize for the Crime Novel of the Year 2005 key dates:

v Friday 1 April: Long list of 20 announced and voting opens in Ottakar’s stores nationwide and online at www.ottakars.co.uk

v Tuesday 31 May: Voting on long list closes

v Monday 13 June: Shortlist of 6 announced and voting opens in Ottakar’s stores and website

v Friday 15 July: Voting on shortlist closes

v Thursday 21 July: Winner announced at award’s ceremony on Festival’s opening night

Theakston’s Old Peculier

T&R Theakston was established in Masham, North Yorkshire in 1827 by Robert Theakston. Throughout its 176 year history the company has prided itself on brewing a range of fine quality ales that have reaped many awards and accolades. In the 1980s the company was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle plc.

Bought back by the Theakston family in Autumn 2003, principal directors in the new business are Executive Directors Simon Theakston and Collin Wood. Under the guidance of the Theakston family the business will be nurtured as a business committed to the traditional values of quality customer service, brewing excellence and community commitment.

Ottakar's is the second largest specialist bookseller in the UK, with over 130 stores nationwide. Ottakar's was founded in 1987 by James Heneage, still Managing Director, and it was voted Bookselling Company of the Year in both 2003 and 2004.

The Theakston’s Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival is a celebration of the best in crime fiction. 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.