A Reluctant Spy shortlisted for the McDermid Debut Award

I am still slightly gobsmacked and very much excited and delighted to announce that A RELUCTANT SPY, my debut novel, has been shortlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier McDermid Debut Award!

The McDermid Debut Award is named in recognition of Val McDermid, celebrated Scottish crime writer and co-founder of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival held each year in Harrogate. Val has been a strong voice for debut authors since the beginning of the festival through the 'New Blood' panel and this new award (first given in 2024 to Marie Tierney for her book DEADLY ANIMALS) is a continuation of that legacy.

Huge congratulations to my fellow shortlisters: Chris Bridges, Bonnie Burke-Patel, Nilesha Chauvet, Louise Minchin and Sean Watkin!

I first went to Harrogate last year, a couple of months before A RELUCTANT SPY came out and it was an incredible experience. As I wrote about last year, one of the concerns I had about debuting in a new genre, after writing in another for years, was making new connections and meeting other writers. I've been incredibly lucky that the crime and thriller community is just as friendly as the science fiction and fantasy community I already had. Harrogate was where I became certain I was going to do just fine.

Across a scorching hot Yorkshire weekend, I met dozens of other authors, readers, podcasters, bloggers and booksellers, talked myself hoarse, got tongue-tied around authors I really admire and generally had incredible fun.

It's an incredible honour to be returning to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival as a shortlistee for the McDermid Debut Award. I absolutely cannot wait for the festival this year.

Please do say hello if you see me. The chances are very good that I'll be floating around The Tent most of the weekend, high as a kite on the adrenaline and excitement of the whole thing. See you there!