The Staróg Prize will award a publishing contract with Walker Books to the winning children’s fiction writer
The Staróg Prize is one of its kind, the only prize in Ireland solely for writers of children’s fiction which offers both a publishing deal and representation by an agent.
The Prize will award an international publishing contract with Walker Books, representation with PaperCuts Literary Consultancy and coverage in the Sunday Independent to a new, outstanding voice in children’s fiction.
Two runners-up will also receive a one-year mentorship from Gráinne Clear, Senior Commissioning Editor at Walker Books, and Polly Nolan, founder and MD of PaperCuts Literary Consultancy to further develop their work.
Submissions close on July 16 2023, and the longlist, shortlist and winner will be announced in October 2023.
Polly Nolan, Founder of Papercuts said that Irish people are among the best storytellers in the world.
“Getting work published can feel like trying to leap across a void blindfolded – intimidating, scary and, in the eyes of some onlookers, foolish. It’s my sincerest hope that this prize helps writers across the land make that leap with ease so that they see their work go from notebook, laptop, copybook or pile of dog-eared paper to published novel, available in all good bookshops. I want to find great, hidden Irish writers and help them to bring their work to children around the world.”
Gráinne Clear, Senior Commissioning Editor at Walker Books, said she was proud to be part of the Staróg Prize, which will open the doors of Walker Books to new and un-agented writers across the island of Ireland for the first time.
“Some of the most remarkable voices in children’s fiction come from Ireland, many of whom we have the privilege of publishing here at Walker, and this prize is a special chance to find exciting new talent – and bring their story to children all over the world. I cannot wait to start reading.”
Madeleine Keane, literary editor at the Sunday Independent, said she was honoured to be part of the prize. “I’ve always been passionate about the vital role reading plays in the lives of our younger generation and greatly look forward to discovering vibrant new voices in children’s fiction.”
GUIDELINES
What are the criteria for the prize?
- An unpublished, completed work of fiction (25,000 – 70,000 words) in English aimed at readers between 7 and 13 years of age.
- A one-page synopsis and a brief cover letter.
Who is eligible?
- Writers over the age of 18 with Irish nationality and/or resident on the island of Ireland.
- Unpublished writers who are not represented by an agent.
- Self-published authors, as long as the work they enter for the competition hasn’t been published anywhere previously, including online.
- Published authors of non-fiction and/or poetry or fiction for adults.
Who are the judges?
- Denise Johnstone-Burt, Publishing Director at Walker Books
- Gráinne Clear, Senior Commissioning Editor at Walker Books
- Polly Nolan, founder and MD of PaperCuts Literary Consultancy Ltd
- Madeleine Keane, literary editor at the Sunday Independent
