Press Release: Prizes and Awards
R.J. Ellory Wins The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year For The First Time
Posted at 10:37PM Thursday 22 Jul 2010
R.J. Ellory tonight received one of the most prestigious awards in crime writing after his novel A Simple Act of Violence scooped this year's Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Beating off stiff competition from a shortlist that included genre giants Ian Rankin, Peter James and Mark Billingham R.J. Ellory also beat a number of longlisted heavy-weights from the cream of Britain's crime writers including Val McDermid, Martina Cole and Peter Robinson. The Birmingham born author was presented the prize by broadcaster and regular festival goer Mark Lawson at the opening night party (Thursday 22nd July) of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. He receives a £3,000 cash prize, as well as a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakstons Old Peculier. Now in its sixth year, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award was created to celebrate the very best in crime writing, and is open to British and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback in 2009. The judging panel, which included Jenni Murray, BBC Radio 4 broadcaster and author; John Dugdale, Guardian Associate Media Editor; Natalie Haynes, comedian and journalist; Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston Ltd; and a public online vote that represented a 20% share of the all-new judging process, was very impressed by Ellory's novel. Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston, said: "The standard of the shortlist was particularly high this year and our decision was a tough one. However, R.J. Ellory's A Simple Act of Violence is a most impressive, fascinating and surprising book and a worthy winner of this year's Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. A fast-paced thriller, each page seems to bring about a new twist and take you deeper into a world that could only have come from a true master of crime fiction. " Ellory was completely stunned upon hearing the news: "I don't think anyone not in my shoes can understand the definition of speechless. I am utterly speechless. This has really taken me aback. I feel acknowledged for doing something different. Thank you, I'm grateful beyond words." Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award A special presentation was also made on the same night to the winner of the inaugural Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award, which this year is awarded to Reginald Hill. Hill's first book, A Clubbable Woman, was published in 1970 and was the first in the hugely successful Dalziel and Pascoe series which went to became a TV hit. Since then, Hill has written over forty books in a variety of genres and is about to publish a brand new thriller this month.
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