Dundee International Book Prize. Deadline: Feb 19th.

Entries invited for Dundee International Book Prize 2015

The UK's most lucrative prize for unpublished authors opens for entries today, seeking to find a stand out debut novel from a field featuring some of the world's best undiscovered novelists.

Submissions are being sought for the Dundee International Book Prize 2015, with a £10,000 cash prize and a coveted publishing contract with Cargo Publishing up for grabs. Budding authors are invited to enter their debut novels for the Prize, which last year attracted more than 400 entries from across the globe. The 2014 winner was Amy Mason, with The Other Ida, a fresh, lyrical, fearless, and very funny exploration of identity and fame.

The competition is a joint venture between the 'Dundee - One City, Many Discoveries' campaign and Literary Dundee. It is open to authors from around the world, and ten writers have launched their careers after winning the Prize since its inception in 2000.

The scribes hoping to follow in their footsteps have until midnight on Thursday 19th February to send their entry. All entries will be read before a shortlist is drawn up later in the year. The judging panel will then debate the merits of the finalists before the winner is announced at the Dundee Literary Festival in October.

Will Dawson, convener of Dundee City Council's city development committee said "Dundee's annual Literary Festival and the Dundee International Book Prize continue to draw prominent authors, book fans and new visitors to our city.
The Dundee International Book Prize 2015 is an open invitation to budding writers from across the world and an exciting opportunity for Dundee to interact with the global literary community. The judging panel look forward to receiving and reading this year's entries."

Anna Day, Director of Literary Dundee, a University of Dundee-led initiative, said: ‘I'm anticipating another great year for the Dundee International Book Prize - I really look forward to the variety and the excitement of the process. People pour their heart and soul into their novels and we feel privileged to read them."

The Other Ida was described by the judging panel, which included internationally best-selling author Neil Gaiman, broadcaster Kirsty Lang and former Man Booker Prize judge Stuart Kelly, as ‘very compelling', while writer Viv Groskop called it  "Funny, bright, bold and exciting. Sparkles with originality and insight."

 
Over the years, several finalists have also gone on to gain publishing deals thanks to the profile the Prize offered them, demonstrating the strength of the competition.

"The Dundee International Book Prize attracts writers of outstanding talent and variety. I can't wait to read the insightful, exciting, and beautiful stories we will receive this year. Publishing the winner is always an honour." - Helen Sedgwick, Managing Director, Cargo Publishing

There is no minimum or maximum length to the manuscript but it must be the author's debut novel. More information about the Prize, including a full set of rules and details about how to submit an entry can be found at www.dundeebookprize.com/rules.htm

 
The closing date is 19th February. Only shortlisted authors will be contacted by the organisers of the prize. The winner will be informed of their success in June and the book will be launched in published form in the autumn as part of the Dundee Literary Festival.