A new £50,000 writing prize that allows readers to select the shortlist from submitted manuscripts has been launched by publishing platform Libraro in partnership with Hachette UK. The prize aims to 'sidestep the traditional barricades of the book industry', according to organisers.
Writers upload full manuscripts to the Libraro platform, where readers champion their favourite entries to create a shortlist of six books. The overall winner will receive a £50,000 prize package from Libraro, comprising £30,000 and an additional £20,000 towards marketing the finished book, alongside a book deal with Hachette UK.
Two additional reader prizes of £10,000 each will also be awarded: one to the reader who referred the winning author to the platform, and another to the reader who engages most actively with submissions. The prize is open to adult and crossover YA fiction written in English, and is designed to give readers a role in discovering new writing talent.
Judges selecting the overall winner from the reader-generated shortlist include bestselling thriller author Elly Griffiths; Deborah Maclaren, chief executive of book recommendation platform LoveReading; and book blogger Zubs J Malik. The prize is run in partnership with Hachette UK and LoveReading, and supported by organisations including the Frontline Club, New Writing North and The Reading Agency.
David Roche, chairman of Libraro, said the prize was created to 'put power in the hands of writers and readers'. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over, worldwide, regardless of previous publishing history or professional representation. Entries open on 19 January and close on 15 February, with the winner revealed on 13 May.
