17 February 2012
Literary heavyweights to judge Dundee International Book Prize
A star-studded line-up from the world of literature will decide the winner of this year's Dundee International Book Prize.
National treasure Stephen Fry, legendary novelist Philip Pullman, acclaimed Scottish author Alan Bissett, and top literary agent Jenny Brown will cast their eyes over the submissions of aspiring novelists from around the world seeking to have their work published and land a lucrative cash prize.
A publishing deal with Cargo Publishing and £10,000, the largest cash prize for unpublished work in the UK, are up for grabs for the writer who wows the judging panel.
Now in its 8th year, the Dundee International Book Prize attracts well over 100 entries from across the globe each year, and is highly valued by new writers seeking to break into the publishing world.
Stephen Fry, one of the UK's best loved actors, broadcasters and writers, is the author of four novels. He is also a former Rector of Dundee University, one of the partners who organise the Book Prize.
Philip Pullman is the author of more than 20 books, including the acclaimed His Dark Materials trilogy, and is widely recognised as one of the greatest post-war British writers.
Falkirk-born Alan Bissett arrived on the literary scene with his debut novel Boyracers in 2001, and he has gone on to write a further three novels, as well as many short stories and plays and editing several anthologies.
Jenny Brown established her own literary agency in 2002, which quickly became one of the leading agencies in the UK, and established a worldwide reputation. She currently represents 35 writers across a number of genres.
The competition is a joint venture between the 'Dundee - One City, Many Discoveries' campaign and Literary Dundee, a University-led initiative. It is open to both local writers and authors from around the world.
Literary Dundee Director Anna Day said she was delighted to have such an array of literary experts judging this year's winner.
"It is fantastic that we have such an accomplished panel on board," she said. "You'd be hard pressed to find a set of judges with as much experience and expertise to call on deciding the winner of any book prize.
"Philip Pullman is simply a giant of the literary world, and Stephen Fry is both a novelist himself and an intellectual with an innate understanding of what makes great art.
"In Alan Bissett you have someone who knows well the challenges of transforming ideas in your head into words on the page, and making a powerful statement with your first novel. As Scotland's top literary agent, Jenny Brown has an uncanny knack of uncovering the talented budding writers whose talents marks them out from the rest.
"That said, it will still be an incredibly hard decision for them to make because the quality and quantity of entries we receive grows each year. I am really looking forward to seeing who they select as the winner, and I am sure they will be a fitting recipient of one of the most exciting literary prizes for unpublished writers in the UK."
Will Dawson, convener of Dundee City Council's city development committee said: "The judging panel for this year's event is world class and is recognition of how well known and highly regarded the competition has become.
"This is an exciting year for the Dundee Book Prize and I believe it will prove to be one of the most challenging for both entrants and judges.
"The standard of submission improves each time and the panel has to make a decision which could change someone's life. I do not envy the judges the task ahead of them but can't wait to find out who they pick."
The closing date for entries is Thursday, 1st March, and submissions should be sent to bookprize@dundee.ac.uk. Manuscripts must be accompanied by an entry form, which is available from www.dundeebookprize.com.
Entries must be prose, must be in English and can be in any genre (novels for children and young adults will not be considered). The first three chapters of each entry - or the first 60 pages - will be read in the first instance.
Only shortlisted authors will be contacted by the organisers of the prize. The winner will be informed of their success in June and the book will be launched in published form in the autumn as part of the Dundee Literary Festival.
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Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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