Caledonia Novel Award 2022 longlist

A little bit of writing news to share with you on a grey Monday – my book, Fundamental Things, made the longlist of the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. I’ve been sitting on the news for some time as the longlist was announced in early December, but the competition was being judged anonymously so I was afraid to mention it in case someone accidentally gave away my title!

The longlistees were given one week to polish up and submit their full manuscripts for consideration by judge Alice Lutyens, a literary agent with Curtis Brown (having initially submitted the first 10,000 words and synopsis).

Although I haven’t made it through to the final six, I’m so delighted my book placed in the top 14. I’m told that quiet books are a much harder sell than the bells-and-whistles kind, so it’s very encouraging that it caught the eye of the judging panel and made them want to read more.

This year’s winner will be announced on February 14, chosen from the shortlist:

For anyone trying to choose between the many novel competitions out there, I can highly recommend this one. It has a really personal touch, and organiser Wendy Bough communicated clearly throughout about deadlines and announcements. She also responded kindly to stupid last-minute emails asking about wordcounts hours before the deadline (who would do such a thing? Certainly not me!). Watch out for the 2023 competition, which will open for entries later in the year.

I’m off to celebrate by sending my book out into the world again!

[Edited to add the full longlist post-competition]

Photo: lorraine1/Pixabay

Advertisement