Claire Askew (born 10 March 1986) is a Scottish novelist and poet.
Biography
Claire Askew was born on 10 March 1986. She attended the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...
, completing her undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree, and her PhD, before taking on the role as
Writer in Residence
Artist-in-residence (also Writer-in-residence), or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs that involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs that pr ...
at the institution. In 2017 her first two novels were bought by
, with the first, ''All the Hidden Truths'', being released in 2018. Her latest book, ''How to Burn a Woman'', is a collection of poems featuring
outcast women through history, including
witches
Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...
, which Askew herself identifies as.
Writing
The first book in her crime fiction series, which follows the work of DI Helen Birch, ''All the Hidden Truths'', won the inaugural
Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year in 2019. In addition, the book was the winner of the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize,
shortlisted for the
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) is a specialist authors' organisation in the United Kingdom, most notable for its "Dagger" awards for the best crime writing of the year, and the Diamond Dagger awarded to an author for lifetime achievement. ...
Gold Dagger
The CWA Gold Dagger is an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association of the United Kingdom since 1960 for the best crime novel of the year.
From 1955 to 1959, the organization named their top honor as the Crossed Red Herring Award. ...
and Debut Dagger awards,
and longlisted for the 2014
Peggy Chapman-Andrews (Bridport) Novel Award. She has subsequently published ''What You Pay For'' and ''Cover Your Tracks'' with Hodder & Stoughton.
In 2020 she published ''Novelista,'' a writing guide.
Askew has also published three collections of poetry, ''The Mermaid and the Sailors'' (Red Squirrel Press, 2011), which won the 2010 Virginia Warbey Poetry Prize,
''This Changes Things'' (
Bloodaxe, 2016) and ''How to burn a Woman'' (Bloodaxe, 2021). ''This Changes Things'' was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Award, the Seamus Heaney Centre Poetry Prize, and the Michael Murphy Memorial Award.
Publications
Fiction
* ''All the Hidden Truths'' (2018), Hodder & Stoughton
* ''What You Pay For'' (2019), Hodder & Stoughton
* ''Cover Your Tracks'' (2020), Hodder & Stoughton
Poetry
*''The Mermaid and the Sailors'', Red Squirrel Press - 2011
*''This Changes Things'' (2016), Bloodaxe
*''How to Burn a Woman'' (2021), Bloodaxe
Non-fiction
*''Novelista'' (2020), John Murray Press
Awards
Fiction
Poetry
Winner
* Virginia Warbey Poetry Prize - 2010.
* International Salt Prize for Poetry - 2012.
Shortlisted
* Edwin Morgan Poetry Award - 2014 and 2016.
''This Changes Things''
Shortlisted
* Saltire First Book Award -
* The Seamus Heaney Centre Poetry Prize.
* The Michael Murphy Memorial Award.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Askew, Claire
Scottish crime fiction writers
Scottish women poets
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
1986 births
Living people
Women crime fiction writers
21st-century Scottish women writers
People educated at Lady Manners School