Peter James has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to Sussex Award 2013. This is handed to someone who has professionally or personally made the county a better place. Previous winners include Nick Dodds, head of the Brighton Festival; Roger French, chief executive of Brighton and Hove Bus Company; and Tony Bloom, Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion. The nominees have been chosen by a select panel of judges, with the winner to be voted for by members of the public.

Peter James was born in Brighton and is regarded as one of the best crime writers of his generation. DEAD MAN'S TIME, the 9th book in his best-selling Roy Grace series, was released earlier this year, and spent 2 months in the hardback top 10 bestseller list.

As well as his literary achievements, he is patron of Sussex Crimestoppers, The Whitehawk Inn and Friends of Seaford Library, as well as joint patron of Neighbourhood Watch. He is also vice president of Brighton's Old Police Cells Museum, ambassador for Brighton University and a Martlets Hospice Champion. He regularly supports The Sussex Community Foundation, The Backup Trust for Spinal Injuries, The Chichester Life Centre, Book Trade Benevolent Society, Starehe Boys' Centre in Kenya and Action Medical Research.

You can vote for Peter James to win the award here.

Praise for the Roy Grace series:

'Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business.' -- Karin Slaughter

'The rapid-fire suspense builds to a terrifying, graphic conclusion that leaves tantalizing room for future instalments in the series.'
-- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

'What makes his books better than other people's books I think is that the ordinary people in these books react in the way they would react. They have absolute emotional credibility.'
-- Jeff Park, 'Front Row' BBC Radio

'Exceptional, knock-your-socks-off.' -- Washington Post