The good news just keeps on coming for Cumnock author Emma Christie as she has been nominated for yet another major writing prize.

Following on from being longlisted for the Bloody Scotland McIllvanney prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year for her book The Silent Daughter, which we reported on last week, Emma has now been shortlisted for the Scottish Crime Debut Of The Year Award 2021.

She has also previously been longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award.

Emma joins writers such as Alistair Liddle who was nominated for No Harm Done, Mark Wightman from Linlithgow for his work Waking the Tiger and Robbie Morrison from Helensburgh who was put forward for his novel Edge of the Grave in the shortlist.

Emma appeared on Crime in the Spotlight 2020 – the element of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival where up- and-coming stars appear ahead of big names.

She said being shortlisted for the most recent prize is “madness” and that she “can’t quite believe it.”

The shortlist is based on points received by a team of readers – largely made up of bloggers and booksellers – but the overall winner will be judged by Janice Forysth from BBC Radio Scotland, Simon Lloyd from Waterstones and Kenny Tweeddale from sponsors, the Glencairn Glass.

It is the second year that both awards have been sponsored by the Glencairn Glass.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Kirsty Nicholson, Glencairn’s design and marketing manager said: “We are immensely proud of our continued sponsorship of the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year with the Glencairn Glass.

“As a Glasgow-based family business, we cherish our Scottish heritage, so to be associated with such talented authors emerging in the Scottish crime fiction scene is an honour.

“We look forward to immersing ourselves again in gripping crime novels – dram in hand – and we wish all the writers the best of luck.”

Bob McDevitt, Director of the Festival said: “Once again, I’ve been blown away by the quality of the debut novels submitted this year.

“The fact that three of them also feature on the McIlvanney Prize longlist gives you some idea of just how high the standard was this year.”

Good luck, Emma, from everyone at the Cumnock Chronicle.