Novel London began as a series of monthly readings held in bookshops, offering writers the opportunity to share their work in an intimate and supportive environment. Over time, it has evolved into an international literary festival and competition.
To date, the competition has attracted hundreds of entries, showcasing the talent of both emerging and established writers. What started as a local event has grown into a significant platform, providing participants with opportunities to gain visibility, secure literary agent representation, and refine their manuscripts through our mentoring programs.
Novel London continues to support and celebrate literary talent, playing a meaningful role in the literary community.
Congratulations to this year's Novel London Literary Competition Winners!
Karuna Atmakuru
for Reciprocated
𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞:
Trophy + £500 + Online introduction with Literary Agent, Elise Dillsworth
Karuna Atmakuru (she/her/hers) lives in Omaha, Nebraska, USA with her family. She holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering, and after twenty-two years of professional experience, she’d like to explore her passion for writing. She ghostwrites newsletters, articles, and motivational speeches to empower women and children. She also works with suicide prevention organizations to offer strength to depressed people.
Reciprocated is her debut unpublished book, and it offers a fresh perspective on Indian fiction for Western story enthusiasts. The potential target audience for this book is adults who wish to read literary thrillers without profanity.
Sue Kittow
for Lainy's Tale
𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞:
£350 + Write up in Writers Narrative + Interview on The Writing and Marketing Show Podcast with Wendy H. Jones
Sue Kittow is the author of The Rescue and Lainy’s Tale, both narrated by woman’s best friend, terrier Moll, about overcoming bereavement, finding love again, and life with a Romanian rescue dog, respectively. Her next novel, Hunger, about overcoming anorexia, will be out in 2025 and she has just started Book Four.
Sue is also the author of the Walks in the Footsteps series of Cornish circular walks with literary themes. Sue regularly gives talks about becoming published, and when not writing she loves walking, swimming, reading, singing and exploring with her partner in his motorhome.
Yvonne Walus for The Wrong Girl
𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞:
£150 + Coaching/ Mentoring Sessions with Melissa Addey
When Yvonne Walus is not a novelist, she’s a Doctor of Mathematics, a business analyst, a manager, a wife and a mother. Most of all, though, she is a writer, hoping to change the world one book at a time.
Her book settings are reflective of her multi-continent upbringing - first in Poland, then in South Africa and currently in Oceania.
Crime fiction with a literary twist is her passion, both to read and to write.
Her latest book, The Wrong Girl, is described as “A Liane Moriarty thriller set in a New Zealand boarding school."
Thank you to everyone who came to this year's Novel London Literary Festival at The Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London!
Feedback from previous winners' of the Novel London Literary Competition
The winners below were all a part of the Novel London Literary Competition and part of the Novel London Literary Festival. Here is what they have to say!
Radostina Adriana - NLLC 2023 Winner
Winning first place at the Novel London Competition last year was a much needed boost. We writers are not usually known for massive heaps of confidence as writing can be such a solitary experience. But getting this wonderful recognition really made me feel like my voice was getting heard and that there was something in the story that was worth exploring further. It was wonderful to meet all the other extremely talented writers on the shortlist too.
I am hugely grateful to the team behind the Novel London Competition for giving me such a wonderful opportunity and for supporting my writing.
All budding writers out there should consider submitting their writing to this and other competitions because there's no better way of seeing whether readers connect with your writing. Even if it might feel daunting, you never know unless you try!
Mikela Bond - Runner Up NLLC 2022
I first saw an advert for the Novel London Literary Competition on social media and decided to enter my novel The Hollow Hours. When the longlist was announced, I was thrilled to see my name there and to be asked to provide a photo and a short bio to be used if I was lucky enough to make the shortlist.
Being the runner up for Novel London 2022 was a real honour. The prize included lunch with literary agent Elise Dillsworth who was welcoming and supportive, encouraging me to keep going with my writing. Since winning second prize in this competition, I have won the New Anglia Manuscript Prize and am now represented by literary agent Emma Shercliff at Laxfield Literary Agency.
To anyone who is wondering whether they should take the plunge and submit their writing to competitions, my advice is just go for it! You never know where it will take you."
Bren Gosling - NLLC 2021 Winner
Winning Novel London Literary Competition in 2021 was a huge boost to my confidence as a writer.
Part of the prize was mentoring sessions with published crime writer Nadine Matheson. The process of re writing my novel with Nadine’s support taught me so much about my own writing and about the publishing industry in general.
Ailsing Watters - NLLC 2020 Winner
The Novel London Award was a very significant milestone in my writing journey.
Through the competition, I met my agent Elise Dillsworth who was one of the judges.
A part of the prize was a manuscript assessment with Faber Academy, which was very helpful in shedding light on ways to improve my work.
I would encourage all writers to enter this competition as you never know what doors might open and how much closer you will get to achieving your dream. And whatever the results the opportunity to interact with other writers can be great fun and very encouraging.
Melissa Addey - NLLC 2019 Winner
Winning the inaugural Novel London award was not only exciting but felt hugely validating of the stories I wanted to tell and how I had written them.
Since then, I've also attended other Novel London festivals and the readings, workshops and networking are fantastic: full of enthusiasm and love for storytelling, so it's been great to watch the award grow from strength to strength every year.
- Melissa Addey, www.melissaaddey.com
