21 January 2013

Dundee International Book Prize 2013 open for entries

Some of the world's best undiscovered novelists will once again attempt to take their place among the literary elite as the UK's richest prize for unpublished writers opens for entries.

Budding authors are invited to enter their debut novels for the Dundee International Book Prize 2013 and compete for the £10,000 cash prize and a coveted publishing contract with Cargo Publishing.

The 2012 Prize attracted a record 475 entries, with New York writer Jacob Appel's sharply observed post-9/11 satire on patriotism, politics and the media, The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up, being named as the winner.

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 eight writers have launched their careers after winning the Prize since its inception in 2000.

The scribes hoping to follow in their footsteps have until Monday, 4th March to send their entry. 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.

Will Dawson, Convener of City Development at Dundee City Council, said, "We are very proud of the international acclaim of the book prize. It has continued to attract more entries each year and now, as part of the Literary Festival, it is very much putting Dundee on the map for new writing. It also supports the case for our bid to be UK City of Culture 2013."

Anna Day, Director of Literary Dundee, a University of Dundee-led initiative, said "The last winner of the prize was a wonderful novelist, and Jacob's book has proven to be a great success. We know that the next big thing in literature is out there and we're determined to uncover more fantastic talent in 2013."

Gill Tasker, Editor in Chief at Cargo said, "The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up has set the bar high for this year's entries. We're very much looking forward to discovering more new writing, and to adding another outstanding author to our increasingly international roster."

The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up was described by 2012 judge Stephen Fry as a "darkly comic satire, full of insight into American culture" while Philip Pullman said it was "engaging, funny, ingenious, even charming." The book has gone on to enjoy considerable commercial success with other publishing deals around the world in the pipeline.

There is no minimum or maximum length to the manuscript but it must be the author's debut novel. More information about the prize, including a full set of rules and details about how to submit an entry can be found at www.dundeebookprize.com.

The closing date is Monday, 4th March 2013. 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.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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