Dreda Say Mitchell

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Dreda Say Mitchell
MBE
Dreda Say Mitchell at the British Library.jpg
Mitchell at the British Library in 2022
Born1965 (age 59–60)
London, UK
Alma mater School of Oriental and African Studies
London Metropolitan University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Occupation(s)Writer, broadcaster
Notable workSpare Room; Say Her Name; Running Hot
Website dredamitchell.com

Louise Emma Joseph [1] MBE (born 1965),[ citation needed ] known professionally as Dreda Say Mitchell, is a British novelist, broadcaster, journalist and campaigner. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2020 for her services to literature and educational work in prisons.

Contents

Early life and education

Mitchell 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. She received a BA (Hons) in African history from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and a MA in education studies from the University of North London.

Career

Mitchell (right) with writing partner Tony Mason in 2020 Dreda Say Mitchell and Tony Mason.jpg
Mitchell (right) with writing partner Tony Mason in 2020

Mitchell'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. Mitchell and Mason were part of Sky Arts ground-breaking Arts50 in 2019.

Mitchell is one of 12 contemporary female writers – also including Val McDermid, Naomi Alderman, Kate Mosse, Elly Griffiths and Ruth Ware – chosen as contributors to a new anthology featuring Agatha Christie's fictional character Miss Marple. [2]

Journalism

Mitchell 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 Nolan Show , BBC 5 Live.

Mitchell has written for The Guardian , [3] The Independent [4] and The Observer , [5] on issues including "race", culture and class.

Mitchell appeared for the pro-Brexit side on a number of televised debates. [6]

Educational work

Mitchell 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. Mitchell continues to work in prisons as a guest speaker and delivering creative writing workshops.

Awards and honours

Charities

Bibliography

Gangland Girl Series

DI Rio Wray Thriller Series

Flesh and Blood Series

Psychological Standalones

Big Mo Crime Series

References

  1. ↑ "New year honours list 2020 in full". The Sunday Times. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Flood, Alison (31 August 2021). "Miss Marple back on the case in stories by Naomi Alderman, Ruth Ware and more". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "Dreda Say Mitchell: The Guardian". TheGuardian.com . Archived from the original on 14 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Dreda Say Mitchell: The Independent". Independent.co.uk . Archived from the original on 13 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Dreda Say Mitchell: The Observer". TheGuardian.com . Archived from the original on 17 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Dreda Say (18 May 2016). "It ain't easy being a black Brexiteer". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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