We are delighted to reveal the winners of the BPA Pitch Prize 2020. The longlist contained twenty-four brilliant novel openings, and it was difficult to make the final selection. The four winners will receive a one-on-one with our judge, literary agent Jane Finigan, a chance to pitch their novel and receive expert feedback.

Many congratulations to the four winners:

Jonathon Ackroyd – The Birds Showed Her

A homeless birdwatcher saves an elderly couple from their burning house, but her act of bravery is under scrutiny when the community discovers she has been watching the house for months.

Lucy Grace – Shadowsister

On an island without adults to care for them, Ash finds Wren alone one night, and their adventures to survive begin.

Sally Skinner – The Mirador

A hotel. A home. A hiding place…

Nina Blake checks her elderly mother in to a hotel in Granada, hoping the Spanish light, food and language will halt Isabel’s descent into dementia – at least for long enough to question her about a traumatic episode in Nina’s childhood.

Rosie Smith – The Katie Experiment

A coming-of-age story set in modern-day Bristol. Featuring elements of magic realism, this women’s fiction novel examines the price of conditional love — and the strength it takes to stop the pain of our past from shaping our future.

There were many strong entries this year and we would love to celebrate more than four writers. Regretfully, due to the new lockdown restrictions and consequent time constraints, Jane Finegan is only able to offer four Zoom sessions. However, Blue Pencil Agency would like to offer four runners up a short report on their manuscript and an editorial session with a member of the BPA team.

Congratulations to the four runners up:

Nicola Keller – Red Fox Hiding

Anna Slater – The Girl Made of Midnight’s Sun

Selena Slater – Don’t Follow Her

Annie Q. Syed – Birds That Glow in the Dark

We are also excited to reveal the identities of 2020’s longlisted writers:

Alexandra Vernon – My Name is Fee O’Leary

Anita Goodfellow – Epiphany

Anne Hamilton – The Baby in the Box

Caroline Evans – The Girl Who Played With Ice

Conrad Riley – The Fox by Midnight

Elena Croitoru – Out Here, in this Country

Emma Clark Lam – Gertrude in New York

Francesca Quinn – 267 Minutes

James Ashton – The Visiting Officer’s Handbook

Kerry Eaton – Long Egg

Kristin Pedroja – Saudade

Liz Houchin – Queen Billy

Lori Inglis Hall – The Secret Life of Alys

Lucy Katherine Alexander – The Last Drover of Lewis

Megan Tady – Dark Horse

Sue Dawes – The Corridor