Almost twelve years ago, I had the good fortune to gain attention with my debut novel, „The Therapy.“ That my psychological thriller about the tragic figure of Viktor Larenz didn't just sit on booksellers' shelves or even get returned to the publisher as unsaleable is still a small miracle, as the initial print run was barely measurable.
The crime festival „Mord am Hellweg“ has played an important role in this now international success from the very beginning, inviting me, an unknown beginner at the time, to present my work on the big stage. After more than twelve years, it is now high time that I give back some of the good fortune that came my way back then.
Together with the „Mord am Hellweg“ festival, we have launched a new thriller and crime award: the Viktor Crime Award!
Wanted: The bestselling author of tomorrow!
Here is an excerpt from the press release:
Unna. Viktor Larenz was the literary figure in the thriller „Die Therapie“ with whom bestselling author Sebastian Fitzek achieved his breakthrough. The name dictates the focus of the new award: Starting this fall, as part of the „Mord am Hellweg“ crime festival, the Viktor Crime Award will honor authors whose work is on the verge of a major breakthrough or has just achieved it.
The award is endowed with 6,666 Euros. The award's originator, sponsor, and patron is thriller author Sebastian Fitzek. The prize is not an award for a debut (though that is not excluded), but a prize for a new voice in thriller and crime literature who is on the cusp of greater recognition, is just crossing it, or who, in the jury's judgment, has the potential for greater international success.
Publishers, booksellers, and crime critics from all media in German-speaking countries, as well as the festival management of „Mord am Hellweg,“ are eligible to submit nominations for the award by April 1st. Authors who have had at least one new release in the German-speaking market since the spring of the previous year (deadline June 1st) and/or are releasing a crime novel/thriller in the festival year will be considered. Self-nominations are not permitted.
But you can certainly give your publisher a subtle hint! By the way, I'd like to thank the great jury who agreed to award this prize with me. Here too, I quote the press release:
This year's jury is composed as follows: Sebastian Fitzek (thriller author, prize donor; Berlin), Regine Weisbrod (freelance editor; Constance), Margarete von Schwarzkopf (journalist, for WDR, NDR, DF, among others; Cologne), Elisabeth Herrmann (crime novelist; Berlin), and Monika Kramp (bookseller, Buchhandlung Lesezeichen; Hillesheim).
More information about the process and terms of participation can be found here:
Press Release and Information on the Viktor Crime Award
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