Chalcot Spring retreat ends with “elevator pitches”
After a wonderful five days at our Wiltshire retreat we ended with everyone giving stunning elevator pitches for their novels. Thanks for coming.
Emma is responsible for BPA’s bespoke programme of literary events and retreats as well as managing the First Novel Award and submissions to literary agents. With a background in communications and special events she has an eye for detail and a desire to give writers the best possible experience in an imaginative programme of events. Her retreats at Asthall Manor, the childhood home of the Mitford sisters with guest tutors including Tessa Hadley and Claire Fuller have set a new benchmark in literary experiences. The First Novel Award now in its third year has proved remarkably successful for writers with five of the 2018 shortlist gaining agent representation. With an up to date knowledge of what literary agents are looking for, Emma offers a reading service and advises writers with a polished manuscript which agents to approach and how best to ensure your work gets read. She also contacts agents on behalf of writers where there is a potential match.
Orion’s Kirsty Dunseath shares inside knowledge of the business
Kirsty gave writers at our Wiltshire retreat the inside track on publishing trends and tips for getting noticed by agents and publishers. She talked about the importance of the pitch ” Have a clear vision of your story, who your reader is and why they should buy your book.” She also laid out what all…
Preview of author Claire Fuller’s new novel Bitter Orange
On June 6 writers at our Wiltshire retreat were inspired and enthused by the very talented Claire Fuller who kindly came to talk about her journey to getting published, the inspiration behind her best selling novels Our Endless Numbered Days and Swimming Lessons and the tricks of good story telling. She also gave loads of…
Ruby Speechley signs with agent Jo Bell
Client Ruby Speechley posts about her journey to landing an agent “It’s been a long journey to find the right agent, but once we connected, it was a fairly swift process. I’m delighted to have signed with Jo Bell and the team at Bell Lomax Moreton Literary Agency. There are so many people to thank…
Agent of the Year, Madeleine Milburn’s tips for our competition entrants
Congratulations to our competition judge Madeleine Milburn for winning 2018 Agent of the Year at the prestigious British Book Awards on May 14. Madeleine is on somewhat of a roll having discovered this year’s leading new literary talent Elizabeth Macneal while reading for the Caledonia Award earlier this year. She recently oversaw a hotly contested…
Publishing deals for our 2017 competition winners
Congratulations to last year’s winner of the Award, Carolyn Kirby whose historical thriller Half of You was recently acquired by No Exit Press in the UK and Commonwealth with North American rights snapped up by Dzanc Books. Caroline describes winning the Award as “a real breakthrough in my writing life.” She is represented by the…
Leading fiction publisher to talk to writers at June retreat
We’re delighted to welcome Kirsty Dunseath, publisher of fiction at Weidenfeld & Nicolson, an imprint of the Orion Group, to our Wiltshire retreat on June 6. She’ll be talking to writers about the world of fiction publishing, what genres are selling and the importance of the hook and the pitch. She will look at an…
Prize winning and best seller author Claire Fuller to speak at Writer’s Retreat in June
We’re delighted to welcome Claire to our Wiltshire retreat on June 5. Her first novel, Our Endless Numbered Days won the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction and was a Richard and Judy Book Club book in 2016. Her second novel, Swimming Lessons was published in early 2017, and the third, Bitter Orange will…
Writer’s Retreat in Wiltshire, June 3 – 8, 2018
For writers working on a novel or work of fiction – 5 day writing retreat with editorial support at a historic house in Wiltshire from Sunday June 3 to Friday June 8, 2018. Also includes workshops and dinners with best selling author Claire Fuller and Orion fiction publisher and editor, Kirsty Dunseath. Five night stay in a…
Advice to writers from 2018 First Novel Award judge Fiona Mitchell
We asked author Fiona Mitchell, author of The Maids Room to give some tips to writers entering the 2018 competition: What will you be looking for in the competition line up? I’d love to see a brilliant character-led novel with a dynamic, original voice. I adore uplifting fiction, but am also a sucker for a book…