Finalists in the 25 categories of the 2021 Audie Awards, including the Audiobook of the Year and the Audie Award for Young Adult, have been announced by the Audio Publishers Association and can be seen here. Winners will be revealed during the virtual Audie Awards Gala on March 22 at 9 p.m. Eastern and will stream live.
---
Martina Cole is the recipient of the 2021 CWA Diamond Dagger, which is sponsored by the Crime Writers' Association and recognizes "authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre."
Noting that the "long-reigning Queen of Crime Drama is a publishing powerhouse," the CWA said Cole has written 25 novels, 17 of which reached #1, and her books have collectively spent more than four years on bestseller charts. Cole is also a passionate advocate for prisoner rehabilitation and visits prisons to give writing classes.
"It means so much to me to be receiving this prestigious award from my peers at the CWA," Cole said. "I can't believe it's nearly 30 years since Dangerous Lady was published--some people dismissed me as an Essex girl and a one-book wonder--but as one of my favourite songs goes: 'I'm still here!' "
CWA chair Linda Stratmann commented: "We are delighted to award the Diamond Dagger to a crime-writing legend."
Maxim Jakubowski, honorary CWA vice-chair, added: "A much-overdue reward for a major crime author who has often been overlooked by the critical establishment. Martina has single-handedly created a new crime genre and brought so many new readers on board, and has always been a vocal supporter of her fellow writers in word and deed."