The BPA First Novel Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre.
We are excited to announce the winners of the BPA First Novel Award 2023. It wasn’t easy, but after some back and forth, the judges have come to an agreement. This year’s judges were literary agents Eve White and Ludo Cinelli of the Eve White Literary Agency and author Luan Goldie.
We received more than 1,000 entries from around the world, including titles in historical fiction, crime and book club fiction, as well as psychological thrillers, YA, fantasy and speculative fiction.
We are interested in knowing what writers (and by extension our societies) are currently preoccupied by, and certain themes stand out. This year we saw missing or absent mothers, women fighting for independence, and a preoccupation with the sea, increasingly hostile and yet a means of escape.
Selecting a longlist of 22 titles and a shortlist of five was no mean feat, and so many submissions held real promise. It is always disappointing when a personal favourite doesn’t make the cut. Nevertheless, we are so proud of all our selected authors and we absolutely love these winning titles!
Congratulations to our winners and to all those listed. Many thanks to everyone who entered. We found the reading process incredibly enjoyable and wish you all the best with your next drafts.
Submissions for the 2024 First Novel Award will open in January.