The 2022 Exeter Novel Prize
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Winner:
Sandy Kundra Verma: Eyes that Gave up their Search Finalists: Belville – Sian Meades-Williams Fat Men Driving Cars – Jay Mckenzie The Fisher Fleet – Jo Tiddy The Unseen – Sarah Lupton There You Are – Maria Sabaye Moghaddam |
Sandy Kundra Verma (R) with literary agent Hellie Ogden
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More pics (click to enlarge) of the wonderful afternoon at the award ceremony. Thank you to our judge, literary agent Hellie Ogden for talking to us about her work. Thank you to 2021 winner Amita Murray for coming and telling us about her six book deal! The first, Unladylike Lesson in Love is out in May. Su Bristow, our inaugural prize winner makes ups the photo of three past winners. Her new book will be out next year. Thanks to Sarah and Sian for making the trip and Jay, Jo and Maria who couldn't, all were very worthy finalists. Thank you to the best writing group in the world, Exeter Writers for sponsoring and everyone who helped on the day.
Lastly, but very much not least, huge congratulations to Sandy for winning the big trophy! We all loved Eyes that Gave up their Search!
Lastly, but very much not least, huge congratulations to Sandy for winning the big trophy! We all loved Eyes that Gave up their Search!
Judges report:
Belville - Maria and Ruth were beautifully drawn characters and wow, what a hook! I was swept in from line one.
Eyes that Gave up their Search - I loved the set up, the sisters, the beautifully crafted voice of Meena. It’s such a fresh coming of age, and what a skill to pull of humour like that, coupled with the threat of something darker coming. Very clever.
Fat Men Driving Cars - I love the voice, the humour, the sense of mystery building. Edie is wonderful, and made me laugh so much but the darker edge elevates this to something truly special.
The Fisher Fleet - a really unique sense of place with the pull of the sea and a raging story of strong women and witchcraft. Ysabet is beautifully drawn.
The Unseen - Gorgeous atmosphere and a truly brilliant hook. It was the perfect combination of gothic and beauty, very clever.
There You Are - this was so powerful and immediate. I loved the character Mahtab and it had a brilliant sense of pace and writing, a great feeling of foreboding.
Belville - Maria and Ruth were beautifully drawn characters and wow, what a hook! I was swept in from line one.
Eyes that Gave up their Search - I loved the set up, the sisters, the beautifully crafted voice of Meena. It’s such a fresh coming of age, and what a skill to pull of humour like that, coupled with the threat of something darker coming. Very clever.
Fat Men Driving Cars - I love the voice, the humour, the sense of mystery building. Edie is wonderful, and made me laugh so much but the darker edge elevates this to something truly special.
The Fisher Fleet - a really unique sense of place with the pull of the sea and a raging story of strong women and witchcraft. Ysabet is beautifully drawn.
The Unseen - Gorgeous atmosphere and a truly brilliant hook. It was the perfect combination of gothic and beauty, very clever.
There You Are - this was so powerful and immediate. I loved the character Mahtab and it had a brilliant sense of pace and writing, a great feeling of foreboding.
First prize - £1000 plus trophy
Five runners-up will receive £100 and a paperweight
Five runners-up will receive £100 and a paperweight
All author names on both short and long lists are now posted. Please cheer loudly on social media.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and to novelist Martyn Waites who helped us out with the reading.
Our final judge, literary agent Hellie Ogden has chosen the final six and they have been invited to the award ceremony here in Exeter on Saturday 22nd April. Hellie will announce the overall winner at the ceremony.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and to novelist Martyn Waites who helped us out with the reading.
Our final judge, literary agent Hellie Ogden has chosen the final six and they have been invited to the award ceremony here in Exeter on Saturday 22nd April. Hellie will announce the overall winner at the ceremony.
2022 Exeter Novel Prize Short List
Belville – Sian Meades-Williams
Eyes that Gave up their Search – Sandy Kundra Verma
Fat Men Driving Cars – Jay Mckenzie
The Fisher Fleet – Jo Tiddy
The Unseen – Sarah Lupton
There You Are – Maria Sabaye Moghaddam
Belville – Sian Meades-Williams
Eyes that Gave up their Search – Sandy Kundra Verma
Fat Men Driving Cars – Jay Mckenzie
The Fisher Fleet – Jo Tiddy
The Unseen – Sarah Lupton
There You Are – Maria Sabaye Moghaddam
2022 Exeter Novel Prize Long List
Belville – Sian Meades-Williams
Birds that Glow in the Dark – Annie Q. Syed
Catherine of Kilbrittain – Bernie McCarthy
Dead Wood – Mark Dudley
Different Area Codes – Mayowa Precious Agbabiaka
Disappearing – Moyette Gibbons
Don’t See, Don’t Tell – Rob McIvor
Eliza’s Corner – June O’Sullivan
Eyes that Gave up their Search – Sandy Kundra Verma
Fat Men Driving Cars – Jay Mackenzie
Hunted - Vanessa Harbutt
How to Get Away with Murder – Rebecca Philipson – withdrawn
Hushed Peacocks - Helen Reynolds
In the Shadow of the Flame – Harriet Matthews
Judas-Moon – Joshua Rodgers
Last Defence against the Cold – Evelyn Blackwell
Levantine Girl – Margaret Fry
Low Tide - Josie d’Urbal
Malaika – Sarah Lerner
Marisfield – Dorothy McCarthy
Mercury – Sophie Neville
Opening Game – Camilla Macpherson
Project Iceworm – Synte Peacock
Shards of secrets – Claire Quin - withdrawn
Southern Belles – Emily Charlotte Ould
Stay Buried – Jane R. Miles
Swordfern – E.J. Robinson
The Boys in the Wheel Well – Stuart Blake
The Curse of the Bog Body – Becky Hamilton
The Fisher Fleet – Jo Tiddy
The Godmother’s Secret – Elizabeth St. John
The Ministry of Time – Sylvia Bluck
The Moonlight Bird of Tough City – Magda Ibrahim
The Mystery of the Golden Swan – Georgina Edwards
The Quiet Years – Elena Croitoru
The Unconformities – Lucy Grace
The Unseen – Sarah Lupton
There You Are – Maria Sabaye Moghaddam
To Let You Go – Jane Mackelworth
What the Mountains Remember – T.E McKinley
What We Leave Behind – Jane Mackelworth
Why Won’t Our Couples Therapist Believe Me? – Christine Birbalsingh
Belville – Sian Meades-Williams
Birds that Glow in the Dark – Annie Q. Syed
Catherine of Kilbrittain – Bernie McCarthy
Dead Wood – Mark Dudley
Different Area Codes – Mayowa Precious Agbabiaka
Disappearing – Moyette Gibbons
Don’t See, Don’t Tell – Rob McIvor
Eliza’s Corner – June O’Sullivan
Eyes that Gave up their Search – Sandy Kundra Verma
Fat Men Driving Cars – Jay Mackenzie
Hunted - Vanessa Harbutt
How to Get Away with Murder – Rebecca Philipson – withdrawn
Hushed Peacocks - Helen Reynolds
In the Shadow of the Flame – Harriet Matthews
Judas-Moon – Joshua Rodgers
Last Defence against the Cold – Evelyn Blackwell
Levantine Girl – Margaret Fry
Low Tide - Josie d’Urbal
Malaika – Sarah Lerner
Marisfield – Dorothy McCarthy
Mercury – Sophie Neville
Opening Game – Camilla Macpherson
Project Iceworm – Synte Peacock
Shards of secrets – Claire Quin - withdrawn
Southern Belles – Emily Charlotte Ould
Stay Buried – Jane R. Miles
Swordfern – E.J. Robinson
The Boys in the Wheel Well – Stuart Blake
The Curse of the Bog Body – Becky Hamilton
The Fisher Fleet – Jo Tiddy
The Godmother’s Secret – Elizabeth St. John
The Ministry of Time – Sylvia Bluck
The Moonlight Bird of Tough City – Magda Ibrahim
The Mystery of the Golden Swan – Georgina Edwards
The Quiet Years – Elena Croitoru
The Unconformities – Lucy Grace
The Unseen – Sarah Lupton
There You Are – Maria Sabaye Moghaddam
To Let You Go – Jane Mackelworth
What the Mountains Remember – T.E McKinley
What We Leave Behind – Jane Mackelworth
Why Won’t Our Couples Therapist Believe Me? – Christine Birbalsingh
We accept the first ten thousand words including synopsis of a novel that has not been accepted for publication by a traditional publisher. It is open to all authors who are without representation by a literary agent, whether or not they have been published.
Closing Date: January 1st 2023
We are delighted to announce that literary agent Hellie Ogden from the Janklow and Nesbit UK Literary Agency will be the final judge for the 2022 competition.
The competition is generously supported by Exeter Writers
APPRAISALS - for an extra fee, we will write a one-page appraisal of your submission. These have proved very popular in the past. Here are some of the responses from last year:
- 'I really appreciate the balance of critique and encouragement, and it has given me renewed enthusiasm to work on Asha’s story further.' Shirley Golden
- 'this is exactly what I was hoping for - a professional critique pointing out what doesn't quite work and why, plus a few really nice suggestions for fixing it.' Vit Novacek
- ‘it was extremely helpful, and I am excited to be able to address your suggestions, and consider your questions.' Stacia Smales Hill
RULES
1. The 2022 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions until 11.59pm on January 1st 2023, which is without exception the closing date. Any entries received after this date will be disqualified and no refund of the entry fee will be made.
2. The competition is open to everyone, living anywhere in the world, published, self-published or yet to be published, who is not represented by a literary agent. All those long-listed will be asked if they are still eligible to go forward.
3. Entries should take the form of the opening of your novel (not a random selection of scenes) and must not exceed a total of ten thousand words, which includes a synopsis of not more than five hundred words. Any entries received without a synopsis will be disqualified. Entries must be the author’s own work. The novel does not have to be complete. Self-published novels are acceptable.
4. You may enter more than one novel, but each entry must be emailed separately and must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.
5. All genres including children’s of Middle Grade (9-12), Young Adult and New Adult are acceptable.
6. Your name should not appear anywhere on the attachment. The attached file's name should be the same as the title of your novel and as it appears in the subject line of your email (minus ENP, see How to Enter). Only doc, docx, rtf and pdf files will be accepted. Any other formats will be disqualified. Please present your work in 12pt Times New Roman or Arial, 1.5 or double-spaced.
7. Entries must be in English.
8. Entrants must be over 18 years of age.
9. Entry must be made electronically and the fee paid via Paypal. The prize monies will be awarded via Paypal. The receipt issued by Paypal on payment of the entry fee is your receipt of entry. All Paypal receipts are matched with submissions and if we receive one without the other we will contact you. See How to Enter below. If you do not already have a Paypal account, please visit www.paypal.com for details.
10. Literary agent, Hellie Ogden from Janklow and Nesbit UK will be the final judge. Although the organisers hope the winning entrant will achieve publication, no guarantee of agent representation or publication can be given.
11. The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
1. The 2022 Exeter Novel Prize is open for submissions until 11.59pm on January 1st 2023, which is without exception the closing date. Any entries received after this date will be disqualified and no refund of the entry fee will be made.
2. The competition is open to everyone, living anywhere in the world, published, self-published or yet to be published, who is not represented by a literary agent. All those long-listed will be asked if they are still eligible to go forward.
3. Entries should take the form of the opening of your novel (not a random selection of scenes) and must not exceed a total of ten thousand words, which includes a synopsis of not more than five hundred words. Any entries received without a synopsis will be disqualified. Entries must be the author’s own work. The novel does not have to be complete. Self-published novels are acceptable.
4. You may enter more than one novel, but each entry must be emailed separately and must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.
5. All genres including children’s of Middle Grade (9-12), Young Adult and New Adult are acceptable.
6. Your name should not appear anywhere on the attachment. The attached file's name should be the same as the title of your novel and as it appears in the subject line of your email (minus ENP, see How to Enter). Only doc, docx, rtf and pdf files will be accepted. Any other formats will be disqualified. Please present your work in 12pt Times New Roman or Arial, 1.5 or double-spaced.
7. Entries must be in English.
8. Entrants must be over 18 years of age.
9. Entry must be made electronically and the fee paid via Paypal. The prize monies will be awarded via Paypal. The receipt issued by Paypal on payment of the entry fee is your receipt of entry. All Paypal receipts are matched with submissions and if we receive one without the other we will contact you. See How to Enter below. If you do not already have a Paypal account, please visit www.paypal.com for details.
10. Literary agent, Hellie Ogden from Janklow and Nesbit UK will be the final judge. Although the organisers hope the winning entrant will achieve publication, no guarantee of agent representation or publication can be given.
11. The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
How to Enter
1 - Please read all the rules before you proceed. We don't want to disqualify anyone.
2 - In the subject line of your email, type ENP followed by the title of your novel.
3 - In the body of the email type your name, contact details (postal address and mobile and/or landline number) and the title of your novel. If payment is made using a different name, it is essential you include that name in the email you send with the novel.
4 - Attach your novel and synopsis (as one document) in one of the formats set out in Rule 6. Your name and contact details must not appear anywhere on the attachment. Email to [email protected]
5 - Click on the appropriate Paypal button below and pay the fee.
1 - Please read all the rules before you proceed. We don't want to disqualify anyone.
2 - In the subject line of your email, type ENP followed by the title of your novel.
3 - In the body of the email type your name, contact details (postal address and mobile and/or landline number) and the title of your novel. If payment is made using a different name, it is essential you include that name in the email you send with the novel.
4 - Attach your novel and synopsis (as one document) in one of the formats set out in Rule 6. Your name and contact details must not appear anywhere on the attachment. Email to [email protected]
5 - Click on the appropriate Paypal button below and pay the fee.
Exeter Novel Prize entry fee: £20
Appraisal including entry fee: £100
Data Protection
By entering the competition you are agreeing to our keeping your contact details. You will occasionally receive emails from us with updates about all our competitions, events and publications. You may unsubscribe at any time, either by clicking on the bottom of an email you've received or, by going to our Privacy Policy page and filling in the form.
By entering the competition you are agreeing to our keeping your contact details. You will occasionally receive emails from us with updates about all our competitions, events and publications. You may unsubscribe at any time, either by clicking on the bottom of an email you've received or, by going to our Privacy Policy page and filling in the form.
