Sisters in Crime launches two new awards in 2018

Tuesday, 15 May 2018 Books+Publishing

Sisters in Crime is launching two new prizes in 2018: the Crime and Punishment Award, and the Award for Best Forensic Linguistics Story.

The Crime and Punishment Award will be awarded to the story with ‘the most satisfying retribution’, with the winner receiving a three-month studio residency at the Old Melbourne Gaol, worth $660.

‘We figured crime writers would appreciate the ambiance,’ Writers Victoria director and Sisters in Crime member Angela Savage told Books+Publishing. ‘The idea [for this award] came about as a result of a group brainstorm at Writers Victoria, no doubt reflecting our passion for comeuppance—I mean, justice.’

The Best Forensic Linguistics Story, worth $1000, will be awarded to the best fiction story that demonstrates how ‘word usage, grammar, punctuation and syntax can unmask criminals’. It was pitched to Sisters in Crime by Georgina Heydon, president of the International Association of Forensic Linguists (IAFL) as a way to raise ‘public awareness about linguistics and language in the justice system’.

Sisters in Crime spokesperson Carmel Shute said that the majority of the awards offered under the Scarlet Stiletto umbrella are always in a state of flux (apart from the first, second, third and youth prizes), and depend on the ‘willingness of sponsors’ each year.

To find out more about the new prizes, see the website.

Category: Local news