News

A prize to discover new, funny writers has been launched by the Greenhouse Literary Agency. Agent Julia Churchill said the prize was set up in response to the swing to older, darker submissions she receives from writers.

Julia explains, “More than half the submissions I now receive from writers are for darker young adult fiction, whereas five years ago that accounted for more like 10% to 15% of submissions. These days whenever someone had a good idea for a younger reader or something that is funny, everyone wants to see it because it is different.”

Further details can be found on the Greenhouse site at www.greenhouseliterary.com

Closing date is 30th July 2012.

A big thank you to everyone who visited us at London Book Fair this year. We had an incredibly busy few days and hope that everyone who wanted to chat to us managed to do so. If not don’t hesitate to drop us an email with any queries. Louise finished off a very successful three days by giving a talk in the Children’s Innovation Zone. Thank you to those of you who took the time to stop by and listen. See you next year!

Templar – whose biggest success had been the Ology World series – welcomes submissions of both children’s fiction and novelty and picture books. All submissions should be sent as hard copy – electronic submissions will not be considered.

Writers submitting children’s fiction should send the first three chapters and a synopsis. These should be addressed to the commissioning editor for fiction. Writers submitting picture and novelty books should send the whole manuscript. These should be addressed to the submissions team. Writers wanting their work returned MUST include a S.A.E.

For further details visit www.templarco.co.uk

We are delighted to announce that Cressida Downing is joining The Writers’ Advice Centre as a new addition to our editorial team.

Cressida has been working in the book industry for more than twenty years. Starting as a bookseller in charge of the children’s department, she went on to work in publishing, back to bookselling, and now works as an editorial consultant. Her clients include Orion, a number of literary agents, and working directly with authors. She blogs for www.writersandartists.co.uk and gives workshops and talks on various aspects of publishing.

Cressida will have special responsibility for submissions for older readers and is our resident non-fiction expert. A passionate reader, she is committed to getting the best out of every writer. She joins editors Cherith Baldry, Martyn Beardsley, Rebecca Davies, Coral Rumble and Lynn Curtis.

Publisher Tamarind Books has called for more writers and illustrators to tackle multicultural issues in their work, pointing to a lack of strong writing in this area.

Tamarind (originally established by Verna Wilkins) is now part of the Random House group and, although previously focused on picture books, it is extending its list in 2012 to include more fiction for children aged eight years plus and young adult readers.

“Authors themselves don’t need to come from a mixed community,” says fiction editor, Parul Bavishi. “I am essentially looking for strong stories and a good mix of ages. It has to be a beautiful story – not a focus on the fact that the main character is not middle class or white.”

To coincide with their search for writers Tamarind are running a competition. For full details click on the link http://www.tamarindbooks.co.uk/blog/?p=815

Entries are now open to our 2012 children’s story competition which, fittingly, has an Olympic theme. First prize is £100, a written critique and a chance to have your work put forward to an agent or publisher.

Please click on the link for full details and an entry form Entry_Form12.doc

Writers’ Advice Centre author Susan Imgrund (writing under the name of S.P. Moss) has found success with her 21st century adventure novel The Bother in Burmeon. Launch date is 11th April and full details can be found at www.circaidygregory.co.uk

And Karen Inglis has followed up her successful debut The Secret Lake with her second book Eeek! The Runaway Alien

Both books are available to order from Amazon.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) and author, Alex Wheatle, have joined the judging panel of the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Award.

Entrants – who must be unpublished – have until December 2012 to enter the award, which is for the best work of fiction featuring diversity for readers aged eight – twelve years.Helen Limon won the 2011 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award for Om Shanti,Babe.

For further details click on the link Diverse_Voices.webarchive

The Writers’ Advice Centre is in discussions with Matador to publish a small list of books under a dedicated Writers’ Advice Centre imprint.

“We are becoming increasingly frustrated at seeing good manuscripts failing,” says Louise Jordan, Managing Editor. “We would like to cherry pick our most promising authors and give them the start they deserve. We have been looking for a publisher for some time and Matador seems the ideal choice.”

Details as to how the new imprint will be organised is still under discussion so watch this space! In the meantime The Writers’ Advice Centre recommends Matador to anyone interested in self-publishing.

For more details about what Matador offer visit www.troubador.co.uk/matador