PRIZE RULES 2025 AND ENTRY FORM

ENTRY RULES – YOU MUST SUBMIT ONE ENTRY FORM FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TITLE YOU ARE SUBMITTING.
· Publishers may submit full length novels first published in the United Kingdom between 1st August 2024 and 31st July 2025 for The McIlvanney Prize and The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize.
· For the purposes of both prizes, a crime novel is eligible if the author was born, raised, is a permanent resident in, or has a strong and enduring connection to Scotland.
· Please indicate in your submission the criteria that the author meets, using the appropriate box to explain why you believe the book qualifies. Please also note on the form if the book is a debut.
· Books published as hardback, paperback originals or exclusively as e-books are eligible, either published by publishers, or self-published.
· The submission of an author’s work by the publisher will be taken as agreement by the author that he/she/they are willing for the submitted work to be considered and shared (in all formats) with those involved in the selection process.
· It is a condition of entry that publishers will put the award logo and “Winner of The McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2025/Winner of The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2025” or “Shortlisted for The McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2025/Shortlisted for The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2025” including the name(s) of sponsor(s), on the cover of subsequent editions of winning/shortlisted books. We have designed roundels with this information on them if you’d like to use those.
· Publishers will, on request, provide a cover image and author photograph with the necessary clearances for use by Bloody Scotland.
· Publishers will make every effort to ensure that any shortlisted authors for either prize will attend the ceremony in Stirling on Friday 12th September 2025, and will be available for media interviews before, immediately afterwards and throughout the Bloody Scotland weekend.
· There will be an entry fee of £40 + VAT for each title submitted, PLUS a charge of £500 + VAT per longlisted title for the McIlvanney Prize, and £400 + VAT per shortlisted title for the Debut Prize, to cover promotion and marketing of the prize. By entering, publishers agree to pay this contribution. If a book is longlisted/shortlisted for both prizes, only the £500 fee will apply.
· The longlist for the McIlvanney Prize will comprise up to twelve books. The shortlist for the debut prize is usually 4 or 5 titles. Publishers will be notified immediately after the organisers meeting in June 2025 only if their book has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize or shortlisted for the Debut Prize.
· Paper copies of all longlisted or shortlisted books should be made available upon request.
· The judges’ decision is final. Neither discussion nor correspondence concerning any decision can be entered into.
· A DRM-free digital copy of each entry (PDF and eBook if available) must be submitted to the Prize Administrators.
· Please fill in a submission form HERE and submit your book to: bob@bloodyscotland.com
Apply to Volunteer
Bloody Scotland wouldn’t run without the dedication of eager volunteers, keeping the crowds safe, the tech running and the authors guided. Every year we look for Front of House Assistants, Author Hospitality Assistants, Author Signing Assistants and Festival Marketing Assistants to help out our busy team.
2024 applications will open soon.
Support Us
Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s international crime writing festival is an independent, not for profit charity, established in 2011 to present the very best of Scottish and international crime writing. We rely on a combination of sponsorship, grants, box office and donations to support our activity.