I don’t think I’ve posted twice in one day before but today’s the day the Young Writer of the Year shadow judging panel is announced and I’m on it. Past winners of the award have included Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends and Grief is a Thing with Feathers while both Sara Taylor’s The Lauras and The Shore have appeared on shortlists, all right up my literary street, As you can imagine, I’m delighted to be asked to take part and looking forward to meeting my fellow panelists who are:
Amanda – Bookish Chat
Lucy – The Literary Edit
Lizzi – These Little Words
Paul – Half Man, Half Book
The judges this year are Andrew Holgate (Sunday Times Literary Editor), Kamila Shamsie and Susan Hill. We’ll be reading and thinking about the four books on their shortlist then getting together to thrash things out, amicably I’m sure. There’s an event at the Groucho Club on November 17th to look forward to where bloggers will be able to meet the shortlisted authors. If you’re a blogger and haven’t yet been invited but would like to attend it’s not too late to register, just click here. I’m hoping that some of the bloggers I’ve had so many bookish exchanges with over the years will be there.
The shortlist will be announced on November 4th. We shadow judges will be revealing our winner on November 28th while the real thing will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony on December 6th.
If you’d like to know more about the award you can find out here. We’ll all be posting our reviews of the shortlisted titles on our blogs over the next few weeks. You can find out what we’re up to by following us on Twitter using #YoungWriterAwardShadow
Wish me luck.
This prize is great to follow. I really enjoyed being part of the shadow panel when Max Porter won. Enjoy! And I’m looking forward to the author event at the Groucho. 🙂
Thank you, Eric. Looking forward to getting stuck in, and to meeting you at the Groucho.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting the shortlist. I’m relieved for you all that it’s back to 4 entries this year rather than last year’s 5 (and one was awfully long!). I’m so pleased you’re on the panel and I hope you thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Thanks, so much, Rebecca. I’m sorry you’re not able to come to the Groucho this time. Maybe we’ll meet next year…
Yes, it’s a shame I happen to be busy. I don’t normally have many weekend commitments. I would have liked to meet/see everyone. I’ll be cheering you on via your blogs. If your experience is like ours last year, you’ll have chosen a clear winner well before the meet-up, which is just a formality, though enjoyable.
Fingers crossed…
Congrats. I was on the first Shadow jury and it was loads of fun. Unfortunately I can’t make the Groucho club event this year as I’ll be away but it would have been lovely to meet you. The event is always a lot of fun and is the perfect way to spend a winter’s afternoon.
Thanks, Kim. I’m looking forward to it. Such a shame you can’t make it to the Groucho Club. Maybe another year…
Congratulations. How exciting.
Thank you, April. I’m delighted to be involved with this.
How lovely! Given your fondness debuts and new fiction, you seem like the ideal blogger for this shadow panel. I’m sure it’ll be a great experience for you and the other participants.
Thanks so much, Jacqui. Yes, it’s right up my alley, and previous shadow judges have been very encouraging about the fun side!
Yay! You’re ideal for the panel. We did have fun last year, so I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you so much, Annabel. Hoping to meet you on the 17th.
Congratulations, Susan. How exciting!
Thanks, Paula. Very much looking forward to it!
Great news Susan – look forward to hearing all about it.
Thanks, Cathy.
How cool and the Grouch Club, fabulous, look forward to hearing more about it!
Thanks, Claire. Should be fun, I think.
Congratulations Susan. what a wonderful thing to be part of. I hope you enjoy it all 🙂
Thanks so much, Janet. I’m sure I will.
Have fun! I’ll look forward to your posts about it all 🙂
Thanks! Kicking off on Monday with a post on the shortlist announcement.
I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun with this. I love that the shadow jury can get together in person to talk things over (and meet)! Looking forward to the action. 🙂
I hope so. It’s great, isn’t it it. One of the advantages of geographical proximity, at least in comparison with your own shadowing I suspect.
Even if we were all in Canada (which we aren’t) we’re still pretty spread out!
This sounds like a great group and a great project: I hope the experience is everything you’re all hoping for!
Thank you. We’re lucky to be able to meet up. I know that’s not possible for your own shadow reading panel.