Please read the Rules and Eligibility sections carefully before entering the competition. Entry implies acceptance of all the rules and failure to comply may result in disqualification.
How to enter
Please submit your material via our submission form: Criminal Lines 2024
Eligibility
The Criminal Lines Award is open to writers aged 18 and over born or living in Britain (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) and Ireland (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland).
Entry information
- Entries should not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere, in print or online, by a mainstream or an independent publisher.
- You must not be represented by a literary agent at the time of submission or at the shortlist stage. If you receive an offer of representation while your novel is under consideration, you must inform us immediately. If you would like to accept this offer, you must withdraw from the competition.
- Entrants must not have previously published a novel or novella although self-published novels, novellas and self-published e-books are accepted. ‘Published’ means work published in print or online, that has been selected or commissioned via an independent editorial process that does not involve the author of the work in question.
- Entrants who have had other types of books traditionally published e.g. poetry, memoir or non-fiction are eligible.
- Entrants may only make one submission to the prize.
- If the work is submitted for another prize and has been shortlisted, you must inform us immediately.
- Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant, and not written in conjunction with any form of AI, and by submitting you are confirming the work is your own. Any evidence to the contrary will result in disqualification.
- Simultaneous submissions to other prizes are allowed but will become ineligible should they be published, receive notification of future publication, or if you receive an offer of agent representation while the competition is still being judged. You must inform us immediately should your entry be published or win a prize elsewhere.
- Translations into English are eligible provided the source text is the entrant’s own original work and has not been previously published.
- Authors with work published abroad in other languages are eligible provided this is their English language debut.
- Entries submitted posthumously are not eligible.
General
- Please check you are submitting the correct version of your work before uploading as mistakes cannot be rectified later.
Disqualification
We disqualify entries if they do not conform to any element of the entry criteria. Please read the entry information carefully, and refer to the FAQs.
Length
5,000 words max, taken from the opening chapter/s (and including any prologues) and a 1,000 word synopsis. (Please note, the 1,000 word limit for the Synopsis is in addition to the 5,000 words.)
Synopsis
The synopsis should be 1000 words maximum. Begin with a brief summary paragraph, followed by the rest of the synopsis. The 1000 word limit is for the entire synopsis.
Entries must be submitted online. No email or postal submissions.
Format
Entries should be saved and attached as Microsoft Word documents (.doc or .docx), double spaced, Times New Roman 12pt. Entries must be in English.
- Do not add cover or title pages
- Do not send illustrated work
- No handwritten submissions
Judging
The judges’ decision is final and no individual correspondence can be entered into. Judges are unable to comment on individual entries. Criminal Lines reserves the right to change the judges without notice.
Copyright
Worldwide copyright remains with the author.
Criminal Lines reserves the right to amend these rules where it deems necessary. Any changes to the rules will be posted on the Criminal Lines page on the AM Heath website.
Results & Awards
The winner, runner-up and shortlist will be revealed in Crime Monthly magazine.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £3,500 and an offer of representation from A M Heath.
The runner-up will receive twelve months of mentoring from Orion.
Finally
If you have a query about eligibility, please contact criminallines@amheath.com
FAQS
Q1. Are entries anonymous?
A1. No, please submit your name with your entry. A nom de plume or pen name is fine.
Q2. I don’t have an agent. Can I still enter?
A2. Absolutely. This competition is exclusively for unagented authors.
Q3. I’ve previously self-published the manuscript I want to submit. Is that allowed?
A3. Yes, you may submit a manuscript that has been self-published.
Q4. My novel has a prologue. Should I still submit the first 5,000 words?
A4. Please count your prologue length as part of your 5,000-word limit.
Q5. Who reads my work? How does the voting and judging process work?
A5. All entries will receive an initial read-through by someone in the Criminal Lines team. This is to confirm that each entry adheres to the specific entry requirements. Following this, the judges will comprise a longlist of the strongest entries. An editor at Orion will then review the longlist with the judges to select the winning entry and runners up.
Q6. Which countries is this competition open to?
A6. This competition is open to writers over the age of eighteen born or living in Britain (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) and Ireland (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland).
Q7. Which genres are eligible?
A7. This competition is focused on finding new voices in crime, thriller, mystery and suspense fiction only. If you have any questions or queries about whether your submission matches the competition requirements please get in touch with the team, prior to submitting your manuscript, at criminallines@amheath.com before February 7th 2025.
Q8. Is there an entry fee?
A8. No, this competition is free to enter.
Q9. Are co-written manuscripts eligible?
A9. Yes, though the prize money will be split amongst co-writers.
Q10. Do you have to be a debut author to win this award?
A10. No. Previously published authors are eligible so long as the manuscript entered has never been published.
Q11. Are the finalists or the winner guaranteed to receive a publication offer from Orion?
A11. No, although Orion will consider the winner for a non-binding offer of publication at Orion’s sole discretion.
Q12. Are the finalists or the winner guaranteed to receive an offer of literary representation from A M Heath?
A12. Yes, the winner will secure agent representation from A.M.Heath.
Q13. How do I submit my entry to the award?
A13. Please head to the website at amheath.com and click on ‘Criminal Lines 2024’ for full details and instructions on how to enter.
Q14. Where can I address specific questions about the award?
A14. Please email criminallines@amheath.com.
Q15. Who will sit on the judging panel for the award?
A15. Authors Nadine Matheson and Trevor Wood will serve on the judging panel for the award, alongside Sam Eades and Leodora Darlington from Orion, Lisa Howells from Crime Monthly and Oli Munson and Euan Thorneycroft from A M Heath.
Q16. Who is A M Heath?
A16. A M Heath is Britain’s oldest independent literary agency currently based in Holborn, London. Some of their authors include: Hilary Mantel, George Orwell, Maggie O’Farrell, Kamila Shamsie, Katie Fforde, Lauren Beukes, Mari Hannah, Vaseem Khan, Kate Ellis, David Jackson, Steph Broadribb, Alex Lake, Katy Brent, Emma Styles, as well as Nadine Matheson and Trevor Wood, who are both on the judging panel.
Q17. What is Orion Publishing?
A17. The Orion Publishing Group is one of the UK’s leading publishers. Our mission is to bring the best publishing to the greatest variety of people. Open, agile, passionate and innovative – we believe that everyone will find something they love at Orion.
Founded in 1991, the Orion Publishing Group today publishes under nine main imprints: Gollancz, the UK’s No1 science fiction and fantasy imprint; Laurence King Publishing, one of the world’s leading publishers of creative illustrated books, gifts and games; Orion Fiction, a heartland for brilliant commercial fiction; Orion Spring, home of wellbeing and health titles written by passionate celebrities and world-renowned experts; Seven Dials, for the very best commercial non-fiction, beautifully designed and produced; Trapeze for commercial fiction and non-fiction books that start conversations; Phoenix, a bespoke imprint publishing fiction and memoir that combine literary merit and commercial potential; and Weidenfeld & Nicolson, one of the most prestigious and dynamic literary imprints in British and international publishing; and White Rabbit, dedicated to publishing the most innovative books and voices in music and literature.
The Orion Publishing Group is part of Hachette UK which is a leading UK trade publishing group.