Scholastic and Italian pen manufacturer Montegrappa, in association with The London Book Fair, LBA Books and The Independent, announce the launch of the Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children’s Writing. They write:
Can your writing entertain, amaze and enthral children?
Are you the next big thing in children’s books?
If so, let us know!
We’re looking for a dazzling new children’s author.
Publisher Scholastic and Italian maker of luxury writing instruments Montegrappa, in association with literary agency LBA Books, The London Book Fair (LBF) and The Independent newspaper, are delighted to announce a new prize to find a brilliant new children’s author.
The Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children’s Writing is looking for a dazzling new talent writing fiction for children aged 7-12 years. The prize is open to unpublished authors aged over eighteen from the UK and Ireland.
The winning writer will receive a publishing deal with Scholastic, literary agent representation with LBA and a weekend for two in Venice to visit the home of Montegrappa where they will be presented with one of the company’s world-famous handmade pens.
The judging panel includes: Cerrie Burnell, children’s author, Cbeebies presenter and patron of Booktrust; Samantha Smith, Fiction Publisher at Scholastic; Louise Lamont, Children’s Agent at LBA; and Arifa Akbar, Books Editor at The Independent.
Entrants must submit the first 5,000 words of their novel written in English, a one-page synopsis and a short author biography by 2 June, 2014. Please see full submission details and criteria in the terms and conditions below.
The shortlist will be announced at Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2014. The winner will be announced at Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2014 and the winning novel will be published for The London Book Fair in April 2015.
Email your submission to montegrappaprize@scholastic.co.uk by 2 June 2014.
The winner will receive a £5,000 advance, representation from LBA agency (which will take a 15% cut), publication by Scholastic, and a prize package provided by Montegrappa. Runners up will receive editorial advice session from agents at LBA and a Montegrappa fountain pen worth over £100.
For full details, see http://www.scholastic.co.uk/montegrappa. Rules and conditions are on http://www.scholastic.co.uk/montegrappa-terms.