Entries invited for Dundee International Book Prize 2016

Published On Mon 25 Jan 2016 by Grant Hill

The organisers of the Dundee International Book Prize have once again invited unpublished authors to polish their manuscripts and stake their claim for £5,000 and a publishing deal with Freight Books.

Submissions are being sought for the 2016 award, which this year also offers a week of protected writing time in the City of Discovery as well as the coveted publishing contract and cash prize. Writers with a spellbinding, unpublished novel have until midnight on 19th February to enter the competition, which last year attracted more than 450 entries from across the globe.

All entries will be read before a shortlist is drawn up later in the year. The judging panel will then debate the merits of the finalists before the winner is announced at the Dundee Literary Festival in October.

The competition is a joint venture between the 'Dundee - One City, Many Discoveries' campaign and Literary Dundee. It is open to authors from around the world, and eleven writers have launched their careers after winning the Prize since its inception in 2000. Last year’s winner was Martin Cathcart Froden with Devil Take the Hindmost, a thrilling ride through an historical London that is rarely visited.

Peggy Hughes of Literary Dundee, said, “This is a brilliant time of year for Literary Dundee, when Dundee International Book Prize submissions start arriving. It’s a really exciting process for us, and with the standard and volume getting better and bigger each year, the bar is very high. It’s a privilege to read work from debut authors from all over the world and we can't wait for those manuscripts to start arriving. Good luck to all entrants!”

Will Dawson convener of Dundee City Council's city development committee said, “The Dundee International Book Prize forms an integral part of the city's long and proud literary heritage. Dundee is the basis for so much great writing and this year the offer of a week's writing time in the city is sure to act as an incentive and inspiration to entrants.”

Devil Take the Hindmost was described by the judging panel, which included broadcaster Fred MacAulay and award-winning crime writer Denise Mina, as ‘a page turner, a compelling and original noir, like Peaky Blinders meets Brighton Rock’. It will be published by Freight Books in June this year.

Over the years, several finalists have also gone on to gain publishing details thanks to the profile the Prize offered them, demonstrating the strength of the competition.

Adrian Searle of Freight Books said “We’re delighted to be the publishing partner for the Dundee International Book Prize. The entries have gone from strength to strength each year and we’re looking forward to exploring the new discoveries 2016 brings.”

There is no minimum or maximum length to the manuscript but it must be the author's debut novel.

The closing date is 19^th February 2016. Only shortlisted authors will be contacted by the organisers of the prize. The winner will be informed of their success in July and the winner will be announced at the Dundee Literary Festival in October.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384768
Mobile: 07854 953277
Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk