The Bath Novel Awards
@bathnovelaward.co.uk
International prizes for emerging writers ✨The Bath Novel Award | Prize £5,000 | C/d 31 May ✨The Bath Children's Novel Award | Prize £5,000 | C/d 30 Nov www.bathnovelaward.co.uk
🎉It's USA publication day for EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT by Ben Reeves and to celebrate we're having a transatlantic book giveaway. Free prize draw open in the US & UK until 31 July. 'This book will change your life' - Joanna Cannon bathnovelaward.co.uk/book-giveawa...
🎉Salt Publishing have acquired @iannettleton.bsky.social's brilliant literary thriller OUT OF NOWHERE, which won the Bath Novel Award 2023. It follows Frank Neely, who is riding in a prison transit van when it is ambushed in the dark and will publish in Feb '27 www.thebookseller.com/rights/salt-...
Salt signs Ian Nettleton with Bath Novel Award-winner Out of Nowhere
Salt Publishing has acquired Out of Nowhere by Ian Nettleton, which won the Bath Novel Award in 2023.
thebookseller.com
🔏And that's a wrap for the Bath Novel Award 2026 entries! Thank you to all entrants — we can't wait to discover this year's longlist, TBA Tuesday 30 June. Good luck everyone!
🔔Last chance to enter the Bath Novel Award 2026! 🕛 Entries close TONIGHT at 23:59 British Summer Time 📤Submit: <5k words opening & one-page synopsis 🏆Prize: £5,000 🌍Open to unagented emerging authors everywhere #writingsky #booksky #writingcommunity #writersky bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-nov...
The Bath Novel Award £5,000 international writing prize
Established in 2013 in the UNESCO city of Bath, the Bath Novel Award is a prestigious and highly-respected international prize for novels by emerging authors.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
Could 2026 be YOUR year? A stellar list of Bath Novel Award laureates and listees have gone on to find agents and publishing success. You next? Open to emerging writers everywhere, with a £5k prize and lit agent Amanda Harris judging. Closes 31 May #booksky bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-nov...
'Tune out any doom and gloom in the industry – humans connect through stories and publishers need to publish books.' Lots of great advice in this Q&A with literary agent Amanda Harris, who is judging the Bath Novel Award 2026. bathnovelaward.co.uk/2026-judge-l...
Bath Novel Award 2026 Judge: Literary Agent Amanda Harris
AMANDA HARRIS is Literary Agent of the Year and the founder of Maven Literary Management. As judge, Amanda will decide the winner of the Bath Novel Award 2026.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
🔔Don't miss the deadline! 🌍The Bath Novel Award 2026 is for unagented emerging authors worldwide ⏱️Deadline: 31st May 🏆Prize: £5,000 👩⚖️Judge: Amanda Harris of Maven Literary 📤Submit: <5k words opening & one-page synopsis of adult or YA novel manuscripts bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-nov...
The Bath Novel Award £5,000 international writing prize
Established in 2013 in the UNESCO city of Bath, the Bath Novel Award is a prestigious and highly-respected international prize for novels by emerging authors.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
It's been a difficult few months, with family bereavements, rain and disturbing local elections in the UK, but there has been one good thing. Out of Nowhere, which won the @bathnovelaward.co.uk in 2023, will published by @saltpublishing.com in February 2027: www.saltpublishing.com/products/out...
Out of Nowhere, Ian Nettleton
A man escapes a prison van in the Australian outback and walks towards the one thing he has left: his daughter. Frank Neely is a thief, a drifter, a man God won
saltpublishing.com
What do literary agents look for in a novel synopsis? Ten agents who have judged the Bath Novel Awards offer their advice. advice/https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-novel-synopsis-ten-literary-agents-offer-their-advice/
The Novel Synopsis — Ten Literary Agents Offer Their Advice
What do literary agents look for in a novel synopsis? Ten literary agents offer their advice for writing a strong synopsis for your novel.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
🎉Happy Canadian Publication Day to @mattfoxwriter.bsky.social for THE LOVELY DARK, a beautifully moving and breathtakingly original story of bravery and second chances, for readers aged 9+. Read about his passion for magical seriousness in children's books at bathnovelaward.co.uk/2023/07/05/s...
Matthew Fox on the magical seriousness of The Lovely Dark
Interview: MATTHEW FOX on the magical seriousness of writing The Lovely Dark (Hodder, 2023) and why he hopes his readers know they are braver than they think.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
🎉Happy publication day to BCNA Longlist Prize-winner Louise Austin, whose hilarious debut ALEX ABBOTT IS [UN]DEAD is out today! Wednesday meets Loki, it's the fang-tastically funny diary of a reluctant vampire aged 11½ and iIllustrated throughout by Katie Kear www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Abbott-...
🗡️🎉THE LOST DETECTIVE by @elspethlatimer.bsky.social is up for the CWA ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger 2026! An earlier draft of this standout crime debut shortlisted for the Bath Novel Award 2023 and you can read more about Elspeth's path-to-publication at: bathnovelaward.co.uk/debut-novel-...
📚🏯🎁BOOK GIVEAWAY🎁🏯📚 Enter a secret wonderland in the sky where Japanese legends come to life! To celebrate the publication of Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories by @wydobson.bsky.social we have a signed copy to give away. UK only, draw closes 30 April👇 bathnovelaward.co.uk/book-giveawa...
Book Giveaway: Win Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories
To celebrate the publication of Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories by shortlistee William Yamaguchi Dobson, we have a signed copy to give away by prize draw.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
'Tune out any doom and gloom in the industry – humans connect through stories and publishers need to publish books.' Meet Amanda Harris, founder of Maven Literary Management and Bath Novel Award 2026 judge. bathnovelaward.co.uk/2026-judge-l...
Bath Novel Award 2026 Judge: Literary Agent Amanda Harris
AMANDA HARRIS is Literary Agent of the Year and the founder of Maven Literary Management. As judge, Amanda will decide the winner of the Bath Novel Award 2026.
bathnovelaward.co.uk
🏯Happy UK Paperback Publication Day to BCNA shortlistee William Yamaguchi Dobson! Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories (Scholastic) is an enchanting fantasy adventure for 9-12s and William shares the moving story behind his debut, plus his path to publication at: bathnovelaward.co.uk/debut-author...
Bath Children’s Novel Award Winner Melanie Whitmarsh describes the moment she found out, shares her writing journey, and explains how the Junior Judges are shaping her final edits. bathnovelaward.co.uk/interview-me...
💫That's a wrap for voting comments! 📚We are pleased to confirm that 2025's children's longlist is on schedule and will be signed off tomorrow, Thurs 18th Dec. 📥If you entered, look out for our email from 19:00 to let you know if you have listed. 🍀Our thanks again to all entrants and GOOD LUCK!
An original idea with a compelling hook and an excellent voice. The characters are memorable and they add different layers of humour, heart and wit. 💛GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 50/50
Delightful. Comical, pacey, original and well-built characters to both love and hate. 💛GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 49/50
Fabulous. *Ludwig* for teens. 💛GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 48/50
Excellent concept, the writing is strong and characters richly drawn. Shades of Judith Eagle. 💛GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 47/50
A very interesting, well-written story with a powerful message to share. 💛GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 46/50
Excellent set up and synopsis about a runaway teen in peril. I would love to read the full of this. 💛GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 45/50
Unique and convincing story of a siren who becomes human to find her lighthouse keeper father and must learn the ways of skeptical islanders. 💛 GOLDEN YES. BCNA25 44/50
Comical shenanigans in a magical world where MC + feline brother must track down spell ingredients for a shady witch. Synopsis promises bags of mayhem. YES. BCNA25 43/50
A fantastical and futuristic reimagining of *Peter Pan*. YES. BCNA25 42/50
Fast-paced story about twins who must prevent global disaster by solving hidden codes; synopsis promises big adventures. YES. BCNA25 41/50
Engrossing, action-packed, C21st *Cinderella*. YES. BCNA25 40/50
A fascinating tale set in the world of Victorian entertainment. YES. BCNA25 39/50
