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2023 Book for Children Competition Shortlist

Congratulations to our 2023 Book for Children Shortlisted Entries

An Inconvenient Human  Amanda Huskisson
Newgate Nell  Alison Allen
Superspy Jack and the Lisbon Olympics   Zoe Rogers
The Fireface Conspiracy  Tom Kane
The Ghost of Père Lachaise  Faye Holt
The Girl in the Stone  David Barker
The Iron GardenJessamy Corob Cook
The Lost Land  Barbara Ann Godwin
The Moonlight Bird of Tough City  Magda Ibrahim
The Scatterling  Carolyn Aylward
The Time Consuming Adventures of Harper Smedley  Ian Murphy
UndercurrentLucinda Marsden
Wild Child  Miranda Moore

Rachel Hamilton is a part-time literary agent, a lecturer in Creative Writing and the author of six books. Rachel’s experience includes editing and mentoring and, as a literary consultant, she loves helping authors refine their manuscripts and find their voice. She holds a first-class degree in English Literature & Language, as well as Creative Writing qualifications from St Martin’s College and London School of Journalism.

Rachel Hamilton

From a neurodiverse family herself, and as someone who has lived in other cultures, Rachel enjoys working with a wide range of voices. She loves books with humour, particularly if it’s edgy, smart, and triggered by characters’ choices, flaws, and foibles. She is also addicted to high-concept, strong-voiced action stories – just the sort that children love!


First Prize £750. Second and third prizes £300 and £200. Plus £100 for a local author.
Prize Giving and Poetry Reading takes place on Monday 30 October 2023 as part of the Festival.
Book your free seat here.