2023 Novel-in-Development Award - RESULTS

Our shortlist this year was judged by Becky Bagnall, top literary agent.

The Lindsay Literary Agency was founded in 2008 by Becky Bagnell, who has been in publishing for over 25 years. She worked as a commissioning editor at Macmillan before becoming a literary agent in 2008. Becky’s clients have been published in over 30 languages across the world and include multi-award winning authors such as, Pamela Butchart, Sue Wallman, Sam Gayton, Josh Silver, Larry Hayes and Louise Finch.

Here’s what Becky had to say:

“I have found choosing a winner tough as the standard of entry was very high. There were some wonderful ideas in the selection and lots of strong voices. However, I’ve been looking at these again today and I think I have finally been able to come to a decision.”

Winner

The one I’d like to put forward as the winner is: The Nighthawk Detectives. From the very first sentence The Nighthawk Detectives captured my interest making me want to champion Penelope and her mission to find her father. The world building felt very strong and the narrative voice warm and inviting. All in all I would love to read more!

Congratulations to Melanie Whitmarsh, author of The Nighthawk Detectives.

Runner-up

For the runner-up I’ve chosen Ellie Anderson Is Dead. The concept behind this YA script is completely compelling and I just loved the opening chapter. The author had total command of her characters and already an intriguing world was opening up. Again this was a script I would love to keep reading.

Congratulations to Sophie Clarke, author of Ellie Anderson Is Dead.

Honorary Mention

As a near miss I wondered if I could also mention, The Sidewinders. This has a lot of potential and the writing in the opening chapter felt very accomplished and definitely peaked my interest.

Congratulations to Gavin Crippin, author of The Sidewinders.

Full shortlist with names

Title of Manuscript	Name
Ellie Anderson is Dead	Sophie Clarke
Kickerella	Becky Stretton
LIFECYCLE	Steve Blackman
Monty McPurr and the Genie of the Blobfish	Becky Stretton
On Fire	Amy Reitz
The Curse of the Cyborg Shifters	Claire Thomas
The Ghosts of Père Lachaise	Faye Holt
The Mermaid Skeleton	Claire Thomas
The Moongardener’s Daughter	Bruna De Luca
The Nighthawk Detectives	Melanie Whitmarsh
THE SIDEWINDERS	Gavin Crippin

Full longlist with names

Title of Manuscript	Name
Behind the green sky	Kayla Herbert
Brassica Galactica and the Black-eyed Pea	Natasha Beloff
DREAMDOGS	A E. Daly
Ellie Anderson is Dead	Sophie Clarke
Jack of All	Georgia Garfield-White
Kickerella	Becky Stretton
LIFECYCLE	Steve Blackman
Little Washerwoman of Wilaghmore	Carey Camburn
Living the Game	Gavin Tangen
Lost	Lindsay McKrell
Monty McPurr and the Genie of the Blobfish	Becky Stretton
On Fire	Amy Reitz
Revenants	Sara Lilley
SEAJET JO	Claire Dopson
Skarlet and the Impossible Tomorrows	MacAllan Dale
The Curse of the Cyborg Shifters	Claire Thomas
The Ghosts of Père Lachaise	Faye Holt
The girl who talks to ghosts	Sarah Davis
The In-Spectres	Marjorie (Marnie) Forbes Eldridge
The Mermaid Skeleton	Claire Thomas
The Moongardener’s Daughter	Bruna De Luca
The Nighthawk Detectives	Melanie Whitmarsh
THE SIDEWINDERS	Gavin Crippin
Things They Don’t Tell You	Alka Handa
UNCOMMON CORA	Regan Nuqui
Wonder Library – The Missing Villain Mystery	Donna Shah