Dreda Say Mitchell
Louise Emma Joseph, professionally known as Dreda Say Mitchell MBE (born 1965) is a British novelist, broadcaster, journalist and freelance education consultant.
Dreda Say Mitchell MBE | |
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| Born | 1965 London, UK |
| Alma mater | School of Oriental and African Studies London Metropolitan University Goldsmiths, University of London |
| Occupation | Writer, broadcaster |
Notable work | Running Hot; Killer Tune; Hit Girls |
Background
Dreda say Mitchell is a best-selling and award-winning crime author, broadcaster, journalist and campaigner who grew up on a housing estate in the East End of London. Her parents are from the Caribbean island of Grenada. She attended Bishop Challoner Girls’ School and went on to receive a BA (Hons) in African history from SOAS, the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London She also has a MA in education studies from the University of North London. For twenty-five years she worked as a teacher and education consultant in London with a special focus on raising the educational achievement of children from minority ethnic and working-class backgrounds. The Times Education Supplement: ‘Mitchell gives a voice to the working class communities she grew up in.’
Career
Dreda’s writing career started on a creative writing course at Soho’s Groucho Club where she began writing her debut novel Running Hot. Her debut was awarded the Memorial John Creasey Dagger, CWA, in 2005, the first time a Black British author has scooped this award. She has since written seventeen crime books, many with her writing partner Tony Mason, including their international best-selling psychological thriller, Spare Room. Lee Child describes her work, ‘As good as it gets. Mitchell is English fiction’s brightest new voice.’ Her Gangland Girls Crime series has been a No.1 crime series on Amazon. She has also written a Quick Read for The Reading Agency as part of their drive to enhance reading skills among hard to reach communities. She has been a judge on the National Book Awards, Index on Censorship Awards and The John Creasey Dagger. She was the 2011 chair of the Harrogate Theakston Crime Fiction Festival, Europe’s largest crime festival. Dreda and Tony were part of Sky Arts ground-breaking Arts50 in 2019.
Dreda is also a social and cultural commentator who has presented BBC Radio 4’s, Open Book and BBC Radio 3’s The Sunday Feature exploring life on housing estates. Her television appearances include Question Time, Newsnight, The Review Show, Front Row Late, BBC Breakfast, The Victoria Derbyshire Show and Canada’s Sun News Live. Her radio credits include BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, Saturday Review, Vanessa, The Simon Mayo Show, Four Thought and Nightwaves. For many years she reviewed the newspapers on the Stephen Nolan Show, BBC 5 Live.
Dreda was commissioned by the Youth Justice Board to facilitate ‘Write-on’, a pilot creative writing and mentoring project in Feltham and Cookham Wood YOIs focusing on children of African-Caribbean, mixed heritage and white working class backgrounds. One of the students was awarded three Koestler awards, including the inaugural Peter Selby Award for Under-18 Creative Writing. She continues to work in prisons as a guest speaker and delivering creative writing workshops.
Dreda has written for The Guardian,[1] Independent[2] and Observer[3], on issues ranging from ‘race’, culture and class.
Awards and Honours
- MBE, Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours’ List, 2020, for services to literature and education work in prisons.
- The Memorial John Creasey Dagger, Crime Writers’ Association, 2005, the first time a Black British writer has scooped this honour.
- World Book Night Selection, Geezer Girls, 2014.
- Contributor in the multi-award winning ‘Books To Die For’, anthology, 2014
- 50 Remarkable Women in Britain, Lady Geek in association with Nokia, 2012
- Silver Contribution Award, Calabash, 2011
Charities
- Trustee, The Royal Literary Fund.
- Ambassador, The Reading Agency.
- Patron, SI Leeds, Literary Prize, unpublished fiction by Black and Asian women.
Bibliography
Running Hot, MAIA Press, 2004.
Killer Tune, Hodder, 2007.
Gangland Girl Series
- Geezer Girls, Hodder, 2009.
- Gangster Girl, Hodder, 2010.
- · Hit Girls, Hodder, 2011.
DI Rio Wray Thriller Series
- Vendetta, Hodder, 2014
- Death Trap, Hodder, 2015
- Snatched (e-novella) Hodder, 2015
Flesh and Blood Series
- Blood Sister, Hodder, 2016
- Blood Mother, Hodder, 2017
- Blood Daughter, Hodder, 2017
- Blood Secrets, Mitchell and Joseph, 2018
- One False Move (novella) Quick Read, 2017
Psychological Standalones
- Spare Room, Bloodhound Books, 2019
- Trap Door, Bloodhound Books, 2020
Big Mo Crime Series
- Dirty Tricks, Mitchell and Joseph, 2020
- Fight Dirty, Mitchell and Joseph, 2020
References
External links
Authority control  |
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