Opening of Shortlisted Titles – First Novel Award 2019

Monday, September 23, 2019

Ahead of announcing the winners of our First Novel Award on Friday 27 September, here are the openings of the six shortlisted novels. The winner will receive £1,000 in cash plus an introduction to literary agent Nelle Andrew and the runner up, £250 in cash and a...

2019 Longlist- 23 titles

Friday, July 12, 2019

Blue Pencil Agency announces the First Novel Award 2019 Longlist. Our 2019 judges are literary agent Nelle Andrew and author of The Witchfinder’s Sister, Beth Underwood. Prizes for the winner and runner up include an introduction to Nelle as well as £1,250 in...

Shortlisted author Gill Thompson talks about her publishing success

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Gill Thompson was shortlisted for the inaugural First Novel Award in 2017. Her novel The Oceans Between Us was published by Headline Press in March on the same day as The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby, our 2017 winner! “I had wanted to write a novel...

Beth Underdown’s advice for writers entering our First Novel Award

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Beth Underdown, our author judge and lecturer in creative writing at Manchester University gives writers some tips to get their entries noticed. What will you be looking for in the competition line up? Somebody who really wants to...

2018 First Novel Award Winners Announced

Friday, November 30, 2018

After six months of reading through hundreds of entries in all genres from around the world, our judges Literary Agent of the Year Madeleine Milburn and author of The Maid’s Room Fiona Mitchell, have picked their winners. WINNER Jules Lampshire   My Poor Deluded...

Shortlisted authors for First Novel Award 2018

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Bluepencilagency announces the First Novel Award Shortlisted authors and titles. Our 2018 judges were Literary Agent of the Year, Madeleine Milburn and author of The Maid’s Room, Fiona Mitchell. BREEDER                                          Mandy Robotham DOLL    ...