Looking for an opportunity to become the next big name on the crime scene? Here’s your chance.

Crime drama channel Alibi, publisher HarperCollins and the TV Times have teamed up with the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate to unearth some of the country’s hottest new crime-writing talent.

Alibi’s Search for a New Crime Writer competition asks budding writers to submit a short crime fiction story of 2,000 – 5,000 words via the Alibi website www.theperfectalibi.co.uk. The competition closes at midday on Sunday 16th May 2010.

Internationally bestselling crime author and 2010 Festival Chair Stuart MacBride has lent his support to the competition by providing entrants with the story’s opening line, designed to spark your creativity.

‘In my experience, those who beg for mercy seldom deserve it’.

The aim of the literary search is to champion emerging crime writers and give them the opportunity for their work to be put in front of leading industry figures. There will be a shortlist of three writers with one eventual winner and two runners-up. All three finalists will win tickets to Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate where they will rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business as well as having the chance to attend creative workshops. The overall winner will be announced on Thursday 22nd July during a special reception at the beginning of the Festival.

Publisher HarperCollins will create a special e-edition of the winner’s story, this will be made available as a download. The victor will also win a Sony eReader as well as an enviable library of over 100 crime novels.

For full details of the prizes and how to enter visit: www.theperfectalibi.co.uk

Good luck!