Ngaio Marsh Award giveaway - and the winner is...

Over the past few weeks here on Crime Watch, the Ngaio Marsh Award Facebook page, and elsewhere, we have been running a giveaway where one lucky reader, from anywhere in the world, would win all eight of the longlisted Kiwi-written crime/thriller novels eligible for the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel.

It was great to see a very good number of entries rolling in, from several countries around the world, considering there was a bit of a hurdle to entry: taking a photo of yourself reading a New Zealand-written crime, mystery, thriller or suspense novel. You can see many of the entries in the "Reading Kiwi Crime Fiction" photo album on the Ngaio Marsh Award Facebook page. It's interesting to see which books and authors cropped up the most too. Vanda Symon and Paul Cleave were particularly popular, but others such as Neil Cross, Ngaio Marsh, Alix Bosco and Donna Malane all had multiple representations too.

The draw was made on Saturday, the day before the Setting the Stage for Murder event in Christchurch (and presentation of the award to Paul Cleave for BLOOD MEN), and I'm very pleased to announce the winner is: Lisa Smith of Northcote, New Zealand, who took a photo of herself reading Paula Morris's HIBISCUS COAST (see above). Congratulations Lisa - your fantastic prize pack is on its way to you.

When the random draw picked out Lisa's photo, I did have to chuckle a little - because that was the only entry that surprised me when it came in, in terms of the books people were reading. I'd never realised that Paula Morris had written a thriller - but on closer inspection HIBISCUS COAST is a tale revolving around art forgery and a heroine on the run from dangerous people, so there you go.

You learn something new... as they say. I'll have to add the book to my bibliographical list (see above).

Congratulations to Lisa. For everyone else, thanks so much for sending your entries in. Keep your eyes peeled for another giveaway in the very near future. And in the meantime, if you're on Facebook, head to the Ngaio Marsh Award Facebook page and click 'like', if you haven't already. Thanks.

Get your entries in! One week left to enter Ngaio Award giveaway

Keen crime fiction readers around the globe have a week left to enter the competition to win eight interesting crime and thriller titles - the books longlisted for the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. The draw will be made next Friday morning NZT (one week away), in the lead-up to the presentation of the Ngaio Marsh Award on Sunday 21 August at the "Setting the Stage for Murder" event in Christchurch.

All eight of the longlisted titles received praise from the judging panel, and the decision on the four finalists this year was very close - with the judges noting the diversity of settings, storytelling, and styles on offer. No matter what type of crime fiction you prefer, you're bound to find something you really enjoy amongst this fantastic collection of contemporary crime fiction - and if you're like the judges, you'll probably find you really enjoy five or six of the novels a lot (though each person's five or six might be different).

You can enter the prize draw simply by emailing a photo of yourself reading any New Zealand crime, mystery, or thriller title - contemporary or from days gone by - to ngaiomarshaward@gmail.com. The book in your picture doesn't have to be set in New Zealand, as long as the author is associated with New Zealand (lives in New Zealand, was born or grew up in New Zealand, etc).

So whether it's a well-loved copy of a Ngaio Marsh, Laurie Mantell, or Paul Thomas novel that's been sitting on your bookshelf for years, or a brand new New Zealand crime novel you've recently picked up from a bookstore or library, grab your camera, take a smiling photo of yourself with the book, and send it to ngaiomarshaward@gmail.com.

If you need some inspiration when it comes to finding an eligbile, mystery, or thriller novel to read and photograph, check out this list of more than 80 authors and more than 250 titles here.

Photos will be displayed on the Ngaio Marsh Award Facebook page, which you can visit and 'like' here.

So come on, get your entries in. You've got to be in to win - and what a prize it is - the biggest and best ever offered in the two years of Crime Watch.

Reminder: get your entries in to win eight Kiwi crime novels

The entries are starting to flow in for the competition to win all eight titles longlisted for the upcoming 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. One lucky person is going to be getting some pretty great reading that should keep them entertained for a while! Make sure you get your own entry in sometime between now and 18 August.

To refresh your memories: the prize is open worldwide, and is a terrific line-up of crime and thriller fiction, with the eight longlisted titles offering a diverse range of writing styles, settings, protagonists, and storytelling. Early comments from the international judging panel, which has been "impressed" by the calibre of New Zealand crime fiction in the running this year, include "such good books, but all so different", and "NZ is such a rich environment for writing... there should be a way to spread the news about these fine authors".

Now you have a chance to try for yourself the entire line-up that has been impressing the Ngaio Marsh Award judging panel. You can enter the prize draw simply by emailing a photo of yourself reading any New Zealand crime, mystery, or thriller title - contemporary or from days gone by - to ngaiomarshaward@gmail.com. The book in your picture doesn't have to be set in New Zealand, as long as the author is associated with New Zealand (lives in New Zealand, was born or grew up in New Zealand, etc). If you need some inspiration when it comes to finding an eligbile, mystery, or thriller novel to read and photograph, check out this list of more than 80 authors and more than 250 titles here.

Photos will be displayed on the Ngaio Marsh Award Facebook page, which you can visit and 'like' here. The winner of the competition will be randomly drawn from the entered photos on 18 August 2011, and announced prior to the presentation of the Ngaio Marsh Award on 21 August 2011.

Win a set of the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award longlisted novels!

Crime fiction readers around the world now have the chance to go into the draw to win a full set of all EIGHT crime, mystery, and thriller novels longlisted for the upcoming 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award.

This prize is open worldwide, and is a terrific line-up of crime and thriller fiction, with the eight longlisted titles offering a diverse range of writing styles, settings, protagonists, and storytelling. Early comments from the international judging panel, which has been "impressed" by the calibre of New Zealand crime fiction in the running this year, include "such good books, but all so different", and "NZ is such a rich environment for writing... there should be a way to spread the news about these fine authors".

Now you have a chance to try for yourself the entire line-up that has been impressing the Ngaio Marsh Award judging panel. You can enter the prize draw simply by emailing a photo of yourself reading any New Zealand crime, mystery, or thriller title - contemporary or from days gone by - to ngaiomarshaward@gmail.com. The book in your picture doesn't have to be set in New Zealand, as long as the author is associated with New Zealand (lives in New Zealand, was born or grew up in New Zealand, etc).

So whether it's a well-loved copy of a Ngaio Marsh, Laurie Mantell, or Paul Thomas novel that's been sitting on your bookshelf for years, or a brand new New Zealand crime novel you've recently picked up from a bookstore or library, grab your camera, take a smiling photo of yourself with the book, and send it to ngaiomarshaward@gmail.com.

If you need some inspiration when it comes to finding an eligbile, mystery, or thriller novel to read and photograph, check out this list of more than 80 authors and more than 250 titles here.

Photos will be displayed on the Ngaio Marsh Award Facebook page, which you can visit and 'like' here.

The winner of the competition will be randomly drawn from the entered photos, and announced just prior to the presentation of the Ngaio Marsh Award on 21 August 2011.

Best of luck, and happy snapping.

Win a copy of international bestseller THE CLEANER

Last week I had a couple of posts looking at the importance, or not, over cover art. In the second post I published a gallery of ten different covers - including the latest Polish-language version (pictured right) - for Paul Cleave's excellent debut novel THE CLEANER, which has been popular in continental Europe and elsewhere.

As an aside near the bottom of that post I mentioned in passing that I would give away a copy of THE CLEANER, making the draw from anyone who commented on the cover art gallery post. I've just realised that I probably should have highlighted the giveaway a bit more, as most readers don't seem to have picked up on it (unlike previous giveaways).

So, just a reminder that if you'd like to win a copy of Cleave's excellent international bestseller, THE CLEANER, please go leave a comment here, discussing which of the covers you prefer.

I'll leave the giveaway open for a few extra days to ensure you have a fair chance to enter.

Good luck. Go here to enter.

And the winner is...

Entries closed for the fifth ever Crime Watch giveaway at 5pm on Friday night, and I made the random draw this afternoon.

As I said when this competition was launched, the prize for the lucky winner is a brand new copy of Donna Malane's very good debut crime novel SURRENDER, which was the winning manuscript for the inaugural NZSA-Pindar Publishing Prize, and was released in New Zealand last month. The competition was open globally, with the prize shipped to the winner wherever they are around the world.

We received a good number of entries for this giveaway - enough not only for me to keep running such competitions now and then, but also to give away THREE copies of the book as prizes (the publisher was impressed with all your enthusiasm, so sent me two more copies to give away here on Crime Watch in addition to the one I'd purchased to give away).

So thank you very much to everyone who entered. If you keep entering them, I will keep running such competitions. So, without further ado, the winner(s) are...

• Fred Runk of Tucson, Arizona;
• Zulema Seligsohn of Bronx, New York; and
• Margot Kinberg of San Diego, California.

Congratulations to Fred, Zulema, and Margot. I hope you enjoy the book!

To everyone else, thanks so much for entering. I really appreciate all the entries. Keep your eyes peeled for more chances to win - the next competition will give away some more great New Zealand or international crime/thriller titles.

Win a copy of NZSA Pindar Publishing Prize winner SURRENDER by Donna Malane (Crime Watch Giveaway)

WIN A COPY OF AN AWARD-WINNING KIWI CRIME FICTION DEBUT!

I've decided it's time to run another Crime Watch giveaway, and in keeping with the Kiwi novel - international novel turnabout that's been happening here for the first four giveaway, now seemed a perfect time to offer you all another chance to win another enjoyable Kiwi crime novel.

As such, I'm giving away a brand new copy of Donna Malane's debut crime novel SURRENDER, which was released in New Zealand this month. I've spoken a bit about Malane and SURRENDER here on Crime Watch in recent weeks, but given the giveaway question, I won't say anymore right now. This Crime Watch giveaway is available to anyone around the world, no matter where you live (I will ship the prize internationally).

You may enter the draw by making a comment on this post, noting your full name and answering the giveaway question. The draw for the brand new copy of SURRENDER will be made at 5pm on Friday 8 October (NZT), so you have a little over a week to enter.

GIVEAWAY QUESTION

What is one fact or piece of information about Donna Malane or her writing?

HINT: You can read my Weekend Herald review of SURRENDER here, and my report on the Auckland launch of SURRENDER here.

Oh, and if for any reason you are having difficulty placing a comment on this blog, you can instead email me your entry, directly (name and answer to the above question). Please email to craigsisterson@hotmail.com

Good luck! I look forward to receiving your entries.

And the winner is...

Entries closed for the fourth ever Crime Watch giveaway at 5pm last night, and I made the random draw this morning.

As I said when this competition was launched, the prize for the lucky winner is a brand new copy of Craig Russell's latest thriller, THE LONG GLASGOW KISS (the second in his Lennox series set in 1950s Glasgow), shipped to the winner wherever they are around the world.

We received a solid number of entries for this giveaway - enough for me to keep running such competitions now and then, so thank you to everybody who entered. So, without further ado, the winner of THE LONG GLASGOW KISS is....

....

Carol Mintz

Congratulations to Carol. I hope you enjoy the book!

To everyone else, thanks so much for entering. Keep your eyes peeled for more chances to win - the next competition will giveaway some more Kiwi crime/thriller titles.

Reminder: Win a copy of THE LONG GLASGOW KISS

Just a reminder that there is less than two days left to enter Crime Watch's fourth giveaway competition, and go into the draw to win a copy of the second novel in Craig Russell's 1950s Glasgow-set 'Lennox' series, THE LONG GLASGOW KISS. This book has just been released in New Zealand and Australia this month.

I've spoken about Russell and the first in the series, LENNOX, a bit on this blog, but given the giveaway question, I won't say anymore right now. This Crime Watch giveaway is available to anyone around the world, no matter where you live (I will ship the prize internationally).

You may enter the draw by making a comment on the post HERE, noting your full name and answering the giveaway question. The draw for the brand new copy of THE LONG GLASGOW KISS will be made at 5pm on Monday 13 September (NZT), so you have ten days to enter.

Good luck!

Win THE LONG GLASGOW KISS (Crime Watch Giveaway)

WIN A COPY OF CRAIG RUSSELL'S NEW 'LENNOX' NOVEL!

It's been a while since I've run a Crime Watch giveaway, so I thought since Spring has finally sprung (here in New Zealand) this week, now seemed like a great time. Since my first ever competition had a Kiwi crime theme (I gave away books by Paul Cleave, Vanda Symon, and Andrea Jutson), the second an international theme (tickets to Lee Child), and the third a Kiwi theme (a copy of Alix Bosco's CUT & RUN), I thought that, turn-about, the fourth Crime Watch giveaway could take another turn with an 'international crime' prize.

As such, thanks to the kind folks at Allen & Unwin, I'm giving away a brand new copy of the second book in Craig Russell's 1950s Glasgow-set 'Lennox' series, THE LONG GLASGOW KISS. This book has just been released in New Zealand and Australia this week.

I've spoken about Russell and the first in the series, LENNOX, a bit on this blog, but given the giveaway question, I won't say anymore right now. This Crime Watch giveaway is available to anyone around the world, no matter where you live (I will ship the prize internationally).

You may enter the draw by making a comment on this post, noting your full name and answering the giveaway question. The draw for the brand new copy of THE LONG GLASGOW KISS will be made at 5pm on Monday 13 September (NZT), so you have ten days to enter.

Giveaway Question:

What is one fact or piece of information about Craig Russell or his books?

Hint: you can read my Weekend Herald feature on Russell and the first book in the Lennox series here, and my 9mm interview with Russell here.

Oh, and if for any reason you are having difficulty placing a comment on this blog, you can instead email me your entry, directly (name and answer to the above question). Please email to craigsisterson@hotmail.com

Good luck! I look forward to receiving your entries.

Win one of 40 double-passed to an exclusive pre-party and Setting the Stage for Murder

Those who subscribe to The Press, the major sponsor of the upcoming 2010 The Press Christchurch Writers' Festival, , now have a fantastic opportunity to win one of 40 double-passes to an exclusive pre-function with Andrew Holden, editor of The Press, and the Christchurch Book Festival Trust. Winners will also receive tickets to the marquee Setting the Stage for Murder event on Friday 10 September 2010.

As many readers will be aware, Setting the Stage for Murder is the Festival event where the presentation of the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel will take place.

If you subscribe to The Press (the major newspaper in the South Island of New Zealand), you can go into the draw for one of the 40 double passes by either:

• TEXT the winning code to 3444. Texts cost 20c. One entry per mobile phone.
• POST the winning code with your name and contact details to Setting the Stage, The Press, Response Bag 500054, Christchurch 8140.
• EMAIL the winning code and contact details to win@press.co.nz

The WINNING CODE is CRIME

Competition closes Tuesday August 31. For full terms and conditions visit www.press.co.nz

Win a full set of the Ngaio Marsh Award finalists!

In celebration of the fact that they publish or distribute all three of the finalists for the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel, Penguin Group (NZ) are "giving you the chance to win a set of these three chilling titles . . ."

Unfortunately for Crime Watch's international readers, the Penguin competition is only open to New Zealand residents - but never fear, I will have a new giveaway for you to enter soon! In the meantime, New Zealand readers should get their names into the draw to win a full set of these cracking crime novels, and international readers should head along to Amazon etc to pick up their own copies.

TO ENTER THE PRIZE DRAW:

• Step 1: Sign-up to Penguin NZ's online newsletter, Penguin Post, so they can keep you up to date with their latest books, news and chances to win even more great prizes.
• Step 2: Email your name, address and phone number to web@penguin.co.nz with the subject line 'CRIME' and you're in the draw!

Entries close 5pm 31st August. Winner drawn 1st September. Terms & conditions.

As I noted earlier, the three finalists for the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel are:

• CUT & RUN by Alix Bosco (Penguin);
• BURIAL by Neil Cross (Simon & Schuster); and
• CONTAINMENT by Vanda Symon (Penguin)

The winner of the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel will be announced at a ceremony at the conclusion of the “Setting the Stage for Murder” event at the Festival on the evening of Friday 10 September 2010.

The international judges said CUT & RUN was “complex and suspenseful” and had “scenes and incidents which are jaw-droppingly good”, that BURIAL “maintained the tension and the atmosphere from beginning to end, keeping the atmosphere creepy”, and that CONTAINMENT had “an attractive series heroine (feisty but vulnerable)” while starting with a “superb” opening scene that by itself would make the judge “want to read more Vanda Symon”.