BRANFORD BOASE AWARD: LONGLIST 2015
Longlist for the 2015 Branford Boase Award announced
The longlist for the 2015 Branford Boase Award is announced today (Tuesday 27th January 2015). The Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children. Uniquely, it also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.
Once again, more than 60 books were submitted for the award; proof of the lively state of publishing for children in the UK, and of publishers’ eagerness to find talented new writers. 18 books have made it onto the longlist. These include Sally Green’s international bestseller Half Bad and Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall, one of the launch titles from three times winning editor David Fickling’s new publishing house.
The Branford Boase Award judging panel has an extremely successful record in picking future best-selling and critically acclaimed authors. To date seven previous winners and shortlisted authors have gone on to win the UK’s most prestigious children’s book award, the CILIP Carnegie Medal: Kevin Brooks, Siobhan Dowd, Meg Rosoff, Mal Peet, Philip Reeve, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Patrick Ness.
This year the judges are librarian and chair of Ibby UK Pam Dix; Sue Jones, children’s books consultant; Clare Maltby, bookseller from P & G Wells in Winchester; and C. J. (Chelsey) Flood, author of Infinite Sky, winner of the 2014 Branford Boase Award. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, children’s books editor of The Guardian.
Julia Eccleshare says: “When we launched the award fifteen years ago, less than a dozen books were submitted. It’s been hugely encouraging to watch the submission numbers grow. The children’s book market today is extremely vibrant, and this longlist features 18 very varied books by interesting new authors.”
The shortlist for the Award will be announced on 4th May 2015. The winner will be announced in early July at a ceremony in London.
For further information please contact Andrea Reece on 07807893369 or
The Branford Boase Award longlist in full:
Bone Jack by Sara Crowe, edited by Charlie Sheppard and Eloise Wilson (Andersen Press)
A Room full of Chocolate by Jane Elson, edited by Naomi Greenwood (Hodder Children’s Books)
Archie Greene and the Magician’s Secret by D. D. Everest edited by Alice Swan and Toni Markiet (Faber Children’s Books)
Broken Strings by Maria Farrer, edited by Helen Thomas (Scholastic)
The Year of the Rat by Clare Furniss, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon & Schuster)
Cowgirl by Giancarlo Gemin, edited by Kirsty Stansfield (Nosy Crow)
Half Bad by Sally Green, edited by Ben Horslen (Puffin)
Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall, edited by David Fickling and Bella Pearson (David Fickling Books)
The Executioner’s Daughter by Jane Hardstaff, edited by Stella Paskins (Egmont)
Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen, edited by Carmen McCullough and Lauren Buckland (Random House)
City of Halves by Lucy Inglis, edited by Imogen Cooper (Chicken House)
Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall, edited by Sarah Hughes (Egmont)
True Fire by Gary Meehan edited by Sarah Lambert (Quercus)
Trouble by Non Pratt, edited by Annalie Grainger & Denise Johnstone-Burt (Walker Books)
Leopold Blue by Rosie Rowell, edited by Emily Thomas (Hot Key)
Valentine Joe by Rebecca Stevens, edited by Rachel Leyshon (Chicken House)
The Dark Inside by Rupert Wallis, edited by Jane Griffiths (Simon & Schuster)
Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott, edited by Alexandra Antscherl (Puffin)
Notes to Editors:
The annual Branford Boase Award celebrates the most promising book for seven year-olds and upwards written by a first-time novelist and also highlights the importance of the editor in the development of new authors. The shortlisted authors may have published other books in another genre – for example, poetry or a picture book – but eligibility for the prize requires that this is their first children’s novel.
As well as encouraging publishers to find and promote new writers, the Award sets out to alert readers of all ages to the work of interesting newcomers.
The Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of the outstanding and prize-winning author Henrietta Branford and Wendy Boase, editorial director and one of the founders of Walker Books. They worked together on a number of Henrietta’s novels, a partnership they greatly enjoyed. Both Henrietta and Wendy died of cancer in 1999.
Running alongside the Branford Boase Award, the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition encourages writing talent in under 18s.
The Award is the joint idea of Julia Eccleshare and Anne Marley. Julia is the children’s books editor of The Guardian and a regular contributor to Radio 4’s Front Row and Open Book programmes. Anne is now co-director of Authors Aloud UK and was Head of Children’s, Youth & Schools Services for Hampshire Library & Information Service for many years. She has served on many children’s book award panels, including the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Awards.
Last year’s winners were C. J. Flood and her editor Venetia Gosling with Infinite Sky (Simon & Schuster).
For more information about the award, including a full list of past winners, and the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition visit www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk .
Or contact Andrea Reece on 07807893369 or
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