Writing world embraces Dundee Book Prize

Over 60 new writers - including staff at the University of Dundee - are jostling for the recognition of the judges in the latest Dundee Book Prize which closed to entries at the end of August. Scotland's biggest book prize for unpublished novels has extended its international reach this year, drawing manuscripts from as far afield as India, Brazil and Canada with the promise of £6,000 and publication by Polygon as a springboard to a writing career.

This year's theme "Discovery" has been widely interpreted, with entries across a range of genres from the thrilling end of crime to the softer end of romance. The three judges - award winning writer Don Paterson, Polygon's Marion Sinclair, and English lecturer Kasia Boddy will be selecting their choice of winner over the coming weeks.

An exciting new dimension to this year's prize is a plan for the cover of the winning book to be designed at Duncan of Jordanstone College.

"The Dundee Book Prize has been well and truly embraced by the writing world who look to Dundee with a new sense of interest , anticipation and excitement," said press officer Carol Pope a key figure in initiating the prize which is jointly funded by the University and the City of Discovery Campaign. "These 63 entries - each one a full length novel - represent a huge volume of research, effort and commitment from writers locally, nationally and internationally each one of whom has made a personal connection with the city and the discovery theme. Who knows, the next J K Rowling could be waiting to be discovered in this pile of manuscripts."

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