We are delighted to announce the longlist for the 2023 Book Edit Writers’ Prize.

Run in association with Legend Press for the first time this year, the Prize is an international competition open to unpublished, unagented British and/or UK-based novelists from communities currently underrepresented in publishing. Last year’s winners include Julie Rea and F.Q. Yeoh, both of whom subsequently signed with top literary agents.

Entrants are invited to submit the first 1000 words of an already completed novel, along with a synopsis and statement about their writing experience. Speaking about the prize, Book Edit Director Emily Pedder said “We’ve been humbled by the quantity and quality of this year’s entries, and excited to see the breadth of talent on display.” 

THE LONGLISTED WRITERS AND THEIR NOVELS ARE:

Advice With Addy by Xyra Speed

Ah Couldney Tell by Pip Penman

Ashland by Joe Eurell

Birds of Prey by Georgia Stawarz

Booyah! by Mike Murray

Butterfly Wings by Stephanie Torrance

Daffodils and the Rocking Horse by Nia Diwakar

I Dream of Strictly by Marion Shaikh

Into Darkness by Tejas Ewing

Kala Polari by Clare Ramsaran

Malathi by Ramya Julian

Mirror, Mirror by Pavan Amara

Rediscovering You by Abimbola Omisore

Rondo by Priscilla Yeung

Tapha by Emily Abdeni-Holman

Teggies by Jenni Brooks

The Bachelor of Beaumont by Nicola Fieldsend

The Cat’s Mouth by Dawn Nicholson

The Considerate Contractor by Charles Rudgard

The City of Stolen Ether by Bianca Aye

The Enigmas of Amy Wang by Anu Pohani

The Minaret Boy by Rosalind Yarde

The Reset by Debbi Voisey

Viscid Rescue by Zeynep Kazmaz

Wayne’s Night Out by Grayson Anderson

You Look Better in the Sun by Nathanael Wheatcroft-Brown

Congratulations to all our longlisted writers! And watch this space for the shortlist announcement later this week.