WINNER OF JOFFE BOOKS PRIZE FOR CRIME WRITERS OF COLOUR 2022 ANNOUNCED
Sam Genever has won the second Joffe Books Prize for Crime Writers of Colour with the "thoroughly gripping" first instalment in a brand-new psychological thriller series.
The annual competition aims to champion authors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are particularly underrepresented in crime fiction publishing, and is open to debut, previously published or self-published writers.
Ten writers were longlisted, judged by award-winning author of My Sister, the Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite, literary agent Ella Diamond Kahn, Joffe editorial director Emma Grundy Haigh and press founder Jasper Joffe. Genever’s book, which has the working title Savage Terrority, is set in Johannesburg and follows detective Segert Berger as he tries to find a woman and her son who have gone missing. But all is not as it seems . . .
Emma Grundy Haigh, editorial director at Joffe Books, says: "I'm delighted that Sam has joined Joffe Books as our second prize winner! From the moment I picked up Sam Genever's South Africa-set thriller I couldn't put it down. The opening scene took my breath away. The cat-and-mouse between Augustine -- desperate, on the run and not afraid to pack a knife if it means protecting her son -- and detective Segert Berger is so tantalising. And then there's ruthless, vicious Teddy . . . The novel tackles some of the most deep-seated issues that remain pervasive in South African society with depth and nuance."
Notes from the judges: "Such an intriguing work, raw and lyrical in one. The opening scene is powerfully dramatic. The excellent setting and tense atmosphere combine with an ambitious plot to create a novel with massive potential."
From Sam Genever: "I never thought I would win -- never in a million years, I was really happy to be shortlisted and told my friends and family that's good news to get to this stage, but not to get too excited about winning, please! It's great to be recognised for my craft and it's great to introduce myself as an author. I stopped writing for a while when I was in the corporate world, but I always felt writing is my calling and I'm glad I'vemade my way back home to it.