Luke Bitmead Bursary 2014

Luke Bitmead

Submissions are now being excepted for the 2014 Luke Bitmead Bursary.

This award was set up by Luke’s family shortly after his death in 2006 to support and encourage the work of fledgling novel writers and is now the UK’s biggest award for unpublished authors.

Luke Bitmead was the first novelist to be published by Legend Press. His novel White Summer was released in 2006 shortly before his death. Two novels have been published posthumously – The Body is a Temple and Heading South (co-authored by Catherine Richards).

This is the bursary’s seventh year. Previous winners include Andrew Blackman and his novel, On the Holloway Road, Ruth Dugdall and her book, The Woman Before Me, Sophie Duffy with The Generation Game, J.R. Crook and Sleeping Patterns, Joanne Graham and her novel, Lacey’s House and finally last year’s winner Jo Gatford. Her novel, White Lies was published on 1st May 2014.

The top prize is a publishing contract with Legend Press, and a £2500 bursary.

Only adult fiction is eligible for this bursary, no children’s books or non-fiction.

The judging panel this year will consist of Luke’s Mother Elaine, Legend Press, Sam Mills and Ruth Dugdall.

Entrants must be aged 16 or over. All submissions must be from first-time, non-published authors – particularly those who are talented but whose personal or financial circumstances are making it especially hard for them to focus on writing as a career.

Submissions from writers will be accepted from 1st May until Friday 1st August 2014

For information about how to apply, click here.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.