Wiley Cash has won the Crime Writers Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2012 with “A Land More Kind than Home,” beating off competition from Tanya Byrne, Ewart Hutton and Tom Wright. The judges called his novel “A potent mix of religion, fundamentalism and murder in America’s Deep South … a powerfully written study of the places religious fanaticism can lead you.”
He responded, “As an American writer, it’s a shock and a real honor to win an award in a genre with such a proud British tradition.”
He received his check and Dagger at the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards, which took place earlier this month in a ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.
Writers’ Workshop classes
These classes, for any level writer, meet at Providence Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. Registration is in advance only, by mail or online at www.twwoa.org. Financial aid in exchange for volunteering is available. For more information, contact writersw@gmail.com/828-254-8111.
Nov. 10: How to revise your work for publication with Karen Ackerson
Writers of fiction or nonfiction will learn how to edit and revise their works before submitting to an agent or publisher. Techniques will be taught on how to grab the reader’s interest by eliminating unnecessary details, building tension and fine-tuning dialogue and descriptions. Participants may bring 10 pages (double-spaced) to the class for discussion. Ackerson is senior editor at the Renbourne Editorial Agency, and has edited more than 220 stories, books and essays. Meets Saturday, 12-5 p.m. $75/$70 members.
Nov. 30 deadline: 24th annual memoirs competition (for guidelines, go to www.twwoa.org)
Dec. 8: Write Your Life with Richard Krawiec
In this supportive writing-intensive class, participants will learn how to draw on the “material” of your life to write and revise memoirs, stories or plays. Elements covered include time compression and expansion, how to focus on theme, recognizing your purpose and developing your piece professionally. Krawiec is the author of numerous books and poems such as “Breakdown: A Father’s Story,” “She Hands Me the Razor,” “Faith in What?” and “Time Sharing.” His work is published in Shenandoah, Florida Review and N.C. Literary Review, among others. Meets Saturday, 12-5 p.m. $75/$70 members.