17 May 2004

Record entry for Dundee Book Prize

Photocall: Lord Provost John Letford and Deputy Principal of Dundee University Professor Geoff Ward will unveil giant numbers celebrating the record entry at 11.15am on Monday, May 17, 2004 at the Dundee University Tower Block foyer.

The Dundee Book Prize is set to cement its position as one of the leading literary awards in the country by expanding its format after the number of entries for this year's competition almost trebled from its previous best total.

Agreement has been reached with publishers Birlinn, through its Polygon imprint, to publish three of the best manuscripts instead of one after the success of this year's competition which has seen 240 manuscripts submitted from all over the world.

The last round of the biennial competition attracted 63 entries and the previous best was 82 for the inaugural prize in 1999 but the prize has grown in stature to become a major literary award and the only one of its kind in the UK, offering a cash prize of £6000 and publication of a previously unpublished novel to the winner.

The theme for the 2004 prize was open and the field of exactly 240 entries has poured in from Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain, Wales, Ireland and England as well as throughout Scotland and from the City of Discovery itself.

This huge surge in interest combined with the quality of the previous winning manuscripts has impressed Polygon, which sponsors the prize along with the City of Discovery Campaign and Dundee University, so much that they are now planning to offer publication to three new authors.

Neville Moir, director of Polygon, said, "We are delighted to continue our association with the Dundee Book Prize and to see it grow from a competition of local interest to one of international interest. In publishing three novels instead of one and involving readers' groups throughout the UK we underpin our strong commitment both to the prize and to the wider aim of Polygon - to find and nurture fresh, new vibrant fiction writers for today's international market."

A network of reading groups around the country will be enlisted to assist with the judging process which will see the field of entries carefully whittled down to 12. The judging panel of bestselling crime author Ian Rankin, BBC broadcaster Edi Stark and leading contemporary Scottish writer John Burnside will then select the three best manuscripts in late summer. The overall winner, who will receive the cash prize, will be named next spring.

Lord Provost John Letford, chairman of the City of Discovery Campaign, said, "We have been astounded at the sheer number of entries which have been coming in and I'm delighted that a prize born and run from Dundee has attracted so much interest. As a city we have an outstanding literary heritage but there is clearly a wealth of emerging writing talent here and I'm pleased that this area is well represented in the field of entries. It speaks volumes about the quality of manuscripts received in this and past prizes that a publisher of the calibre of Polygon is so keen to increase its involvement."

Professor Geoff Ward, Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee, said, "Dundee Book Prize has clearly come of age. As a route to discovery for up and coming writers it is unique in offering a substantial cash prize and the promise of publication - now extended to the top three manuscripts. Its contribution to discovering new writing is significant and its potential very exciting."

Notes to editors

The winner of last year's Dundee Book Prize, Claire Marie-Watson, has seen her novel, The Curewife, which portrays the life and times of Grissel Jaffray, the last witch to be hanged in Scotland, reach the bestellers' lists north of the border.

Andrew Murray Scott, who won the inaugural prize with his novel Tumulus, has gone on to publish several books including two volumes this year looking at the key figures in Dundee's literary history: Dundee's Literary Lives 15th to 19th Century and 20th Century.

The City of Discovery Campaign is the promotional arm of the Dundee Partnership and is also supported by the European Regional Development Fund. Its aim is to lead the way in positively transforming the image of Dundee locally, nationally and internationally, and to ensure that a more accurate perception of the city as a vibrant, attractive and flourishing location is held by residents, visitors, the business community and potential investors.

Media enquiries:
Mike Woodcock
PR Director
City of Discovery Campaign
01382 305160
07775 504222
E-mail: mike@benchmarkpr.co.uk

By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk