# Dreda Say Mitchell > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dreda_Say_Mitchell > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dreda_Say_Mitchell.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreda_Say_Mitchell > Source revision: 1354905908 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British writer and political commentator}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Dreda Say Mitchell | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|MBE}} | image = Dreda Say Mitchell and Tony Mason.jpg | caption = Mitchell (right) with Tony Mason, her husband and writing partner, at [Buckingham Palace](/source/Buckingham_Palace) after receiving her MBE in 2020. | image_size = | birth_name = Louise Emma Joseph | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1965}} | birth_place = [London](/source/London), UK | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | alma_mater = [School of Oriental and African Studies](/source/School_of_Oriental_and_African_Studies)
[London Metropolitan University](/source/London_Metropolitan_University)
[Goldsmiths, University of London](/source/Goldsmiths%2C_University_of_London) | employer = | occupation = Writer, broadcaster | notable_works = ''Spare Room''; ''Say Her Name''; ''Running Hot'' | title = | boards = | spouse = Tony Mason | children = | parents = | relatives = | website = {{URL|dredamitchell.com}} }} '''Louise Emma Joseph'''{{Cite web |date=2019-12-28 |title=New year honours list 2020 in full |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/new-year-honours-list-2020-in-full-w5tkmsqzd |access-date=2025-08-23 |website=The Sunday Times |language=en}} {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 1965),{{cite book|url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/978-1-137-31902-9_97|chapter=Dreda Say Mitchell (Pseudonym of Louise Emma Joseph, b. 1965), 2004: ''Running Hot''|first=Esme|last=Miskimmin|title=100 British Crime Writers|editor=E. Miskimmin|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=London|date=13 November 2020|pages=415–417|access-date=28 February 2026}} 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](/source/2020_New_Year_Honours) for her services to literature and educational work in prisons. She has co-written many of her books with Tony Mason. ==Early life and education== Mitchell grew up on a [housing estate](/source/housing_estate) in the [East End of London](/source/East_End_of_London), England.{{cite web|url=https://www.sileedsliteraryprize.com/patrons/dreda-say-mitchell/|title=Dreda Say Mitchell|publisher=SI Leeds Literary prize|access-date=28 February 2026}}{{cite web|url=https://crimefictionlover.com/2020/01/interview-dreda-say-mitchell/|title=Interview: Dreda Say Mitchell|website=crimefictionlover.com|date=13 January 2020|access-date=28 February 2026}} Her parents are from the Caribbean island of [Grenada](/source/Grenada).{{cite web|url=https://www.dredamitchell.com/about|title=About Dreda and Ryan|website=dredamitchell.com|access-date=28 February 2026}} She attended [Bishop Challoner Girls' School](/source/Bishop_Challoner_Catholic_School). She received a BA (Hons) degree in African history from the [School of Oriental and African Studies](/source/School_of_Oriental_and_African_Studies) at the [University of London](/source/University_of_London),{{cite web|url=https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/international-womens-day-25-soas-alumni-be-inspired|title=International Women's Day: 25 SOAS alumni to be inspired by|first=Surabhi|last=Sanghi|publisher=SOAS University of London|date=8 March 2023|access-date=28 February 2026}} and an MA in education studies from the [University of North London](/source/University_of_North_London). ==Career== Mitchell's writing career started on a creative writing course at [Soho](/source/Soho)'s [Groucho Club](/source/Groucho_Club), where she began writing her first novel ''Running Hot''. Her debut was awarded the Memorial [John Creasey](/source/John_Creasey_Award) Dagger, [CWA](/source/Crime_Writers'_Association), 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 (Ryan Carter), including their international best-selling psychological thriller, ''Spare Room''.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzsprout.com/1686667/episodes/13050837-dreda-say-mitchell-ryan-carter-in-person-with-paul|title=DREDA SAY MITCHELL & RYAN CARTER In Person With Paul|website=Crime Time FM|date=16 June 2023|access-date=28 February 2026}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rlf.org.uk/posts/my-writing-life-dreda-say-mitchell/|title=My Writing Life: Dreda Say Mitchell|website=rlf.org.uk|publisher=Royal Literary Fund|date=25 March 2024|access-date=28 February 2026}} [Lee Child](/source/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](/source/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 Award](/source/National_Book_Award)s, [Index on Censorship](/source/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.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/harrogate-crime-writing-festival-exclusive-video-and-full-length-interviews-1926262|title=Harrogate Crime Writing Festival: Exclusive video and full-length interviews|newspaper=[Yorkshire Post](/source/Yorkshire_Post)|date=25 July 2011|access-date=28 February 2026}} Mitchell and Mason were part of [Sky Arts](/source/Sky_Arts) ground-breaking Arts50 in 2019. Mitchell is one of 12 contemporary female writers – also including [Val McDermid](/source/Val_McDermid), [Naomi Alderman](/source/Naomi_Alderman), [Kate Mosse](/source/Kate_Mosse), [Elly Griffiths](/source/Elly_Griffiths) and [Ruth Ware](/source/Ruth_Ware) – chosen as contributors to a new anthology featuring [Agatha Christie](/source/Agatha_Christie)'s fictional character [Miss Marple](/source/Miss_Marple).{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/31/miss-marple-back-stories-by-val-mcdermid-kate-mosse-agatha-christie|title=Miss Marple back on the case in stories by Naomi Alderman, Ruth Ware and more|first=Alison|last=Flood|newspaper=The Guardian|date=31 August 2021}} === Journalism === Mitchell is also a social and cultural commentator who has presented [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4)'s, ''[Open Book](/source/Open_Book_(radio))'' and [BBC Radio 3](/source/BBC_Radio_3)'s ''The Sunday Feature'' exploring life on housing estates. Her television appearances include ''[Question Time](/source/Question_Time_(TV_programme))'', ''[Newsnight](/source/Newsnight)'', ''The Review Show'', ''Front Row Late'', ''[BBC Breakfast](/source/BBC_Breakfast)'', ''[The Victoria Derbyshire Show](/source/The_Victoria_Derbyshire_Show)'' and Canada's ''Sun News Live''. Her radio credits include [BBC Radio 4](/source/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](/source/The_Nolan_Show)'', [BBC 5 Live](/source/BBC_Radio_5_Live). Mitchell has written for ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'',{{Cite web|title=Dreda Say Mitchell: The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/dreda-say-mitchell|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114190012/http://www.theguardian.com/profile/dreda-say-mitchell |archive-date=14 January 2014 |access-date=|website=[TheGuardian.com](/source/TheGuardian.com)}} ''[The Independent](/source/Independent_newspaper)''{{Cite web|title=Dreda Say Mitchell: The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/dreda-say-mitchell-it-s-not-only-white-people-fleeing-our-city-centres-770659.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113054517/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/dreda-say-mitchell-it-s-not-only-white-people-fleeing-our-city-centres-770659.html |archive-date=13 January 2021 |access-date=|website=[Independent.co.uk](/source/Independent.co.uk)}} and ''[The Observer](/source/The_Observer)'',{{Cite web|title=Dreda Say Mitchell: The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/16/how-will-history-remember-prime-minister-david-cameron|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717153204/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/16/how-will-history-remember-prime-minister-david-cameron |archive-date=17 July 2016 |access-date=|website=[TheGuardian.com](/source/TheGuardian.com)}} on issues including "race", culture and class. Mitchell appeared for the pro-[Brexit](/source/Brexit) side on a number of televised debates.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Dreda Say |date=2016-05-18 |title=It ain't easy being a black Brexiteer |language=en-GB |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/18/aint-easy-black-brexiteer-farage-civility-other-side |access-date=2023-05-08 |issn=0261-3077}} === Educational work === Mitchell was commissioned by the [Youth Justice Board](/source/Youth_Justice_Board) to facilitate ''Write-on'', a pilot creative writing and mentoring project in [Feltham](/source/HM_Prison_Feltham) and [Cookham Wood](/source/HM_Prison_Cookham_Wood) YOIs focusing on children of [African-Caribbean](/source/Afro-Caribbean_people), mixed-heritage and white working-class backgrounds. One of the students was awarded three [Koestler](/source/Koestler_Arts) awards, including the inaugural [Peter Selby](/source/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== * [MBE](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire_(MBE)) in Her Majesty The Queen's [2020 New Year Honours](/source/2020_New_Year_Honours), 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](/source/The_Royal_Literary_Fund). * Ambassador, [The Reading Agency](/source/The_Reading_Agency). * Patron, [SI Leeds Literary Prize](/source/SI_Leeds_Literary_Prize) for 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 *      ''Say Her Name'', Amazon Publishing, 2022 ===Big Mo Crime Series=== *      ''Dirty Tricks'', Mitchell and Joseph, 2020 *      ''Fight Dirty'', Mitchell and Joseph, 2020 *      ''Wicked Women'', Mitchell and Joseph, 2021 ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.dredamitchell.com/}} * [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Dreda-Say-Mitchell/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ADreda+Say+Mitchell Dreda Say Mitchell at Amazon] * [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/dreda-say-mitchell Dreda Say Mitchell at ''The Guardian''] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Dreda Say}} Category:1965 births Category:21st-century British novelists Category:21st-century British women novelists Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London Category:Alumni of London Metropolitan University Category:Alumni of SOAS University of London Category:Black British women writers Category:Black British writers Category:British women mystery writers Category:English crime fiction writers Category:English people of Grenadian descent Category:Living people --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dreda Say Mitchell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreda_Say_Mitchell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreda_Say_Mitchell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.