Submissions are now closed for the 4th Luke Bitmead Bursary - please check back early summer 2012 fo the new call for submissions
We are excited to announce the opening of entries for the 2011 Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary. The award was set up shortly after Luke’s death in 2006 by his family to support and encourage the work of fledgling novel writers. The top prize is a publishing contract with Legend Press, as well as a cash bursary.
Luke is the author of the brilliant White Summer (the first novel to be published by Legend Press) and co-author of Heading South. Information about Luke can be found at www.lukebitmead.com.
We are delighted to be working with Luke's family to ensure that Luke’s name and memory lives on - not only through his work, but through this wonderful memorial bursary too. For those of you lucky enough to have met Luke you will know that he was hugely compassionate and would love the idea of another struggling talented writer being supported on the arduous road to securing their first publishing deal.
We will ensure that, as with all our authors, we give the winner of the bursary as much support as we can, and offer them the most effective creative platform from which to showcase their talent. We can’t wait to start reading and judging the submissions.
We are pleased to be continuing this brilliant bursary for a fourth year, and hope to follow in the success of our previous winners Andrew Blackman (On the Holloway Road, published February 2009), Ruth Dugdall (The Woman Before Me, August 2010) and last year’s winner Sophie Duffy, whose debut novel The Generation Game is published on 1st August 2011.
Submissions from writers will be accepted from 13th May until 31st August 2011.
Only adult fiction is eligible for this bursary, no children's books or non-fiction. The judging panel will consist of Luke’s family, Legend Press – with the full panel announced shortly.
Novels must be already completed before entry. Unfinished manuscripts will not be accepted. Your entry should be sent by email and include the following:
1) The first 3-4 chapters of your novel
2) A synopsis (max 1 page)
3) A personal statement outlining why you would particularly benefit from the bursary and some information about yourself and your writing (1 page approx)
Submissions should be sent to: bitmeadbursary@legendpress.co.uk
Entrants must be aged 16 or over. There is no upper age restriction for entry but all submissions must be from first-time, non-published authors – particularly those who are talented but whose personal or financial circumstances are making it especially hard for them to focus on writing as a career.
The 2010 bursary was inundated with entries and we look forward to reading your work and discovering more talented authors, to join our fantastic alumni!
For all enquiries please email bitmeadbursary@legendpress.co.uk
Background:
Luke was just 34 when he died and was considered by all that had read his work as one of the UK’s most talented up-and-coming writers. His first published novel was the cult comedy White Summer – published by Legend Press in May 2006, just five months before he died. Legend Press, in agreement with Luke’s family, also published the comedy romance novel Heading South which Luke had written with co-author Catherine Richards. The heartfelt dedication in Heading South reads: ‘In memory of Luke, who’s talent, wit, drive and smile will be greatly missed but always remembered by everyone who met him.’
Legend Press and Luke’s family are keen to ensure that the immensely talented young writer gains the recognition for his work that he was due to receive, while at the same time ensuring that his memory helps other writers. Royalties from the sale of both novels, and any other future novels of Luke’s which might be published, will support the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund and future bursaries
Luke’s mother, Elaine Hanson, who set up the memorial fund and bursary scheme along with her daughter (Luke’s sister Tiffany) and her husband (Luke’s step-father Chris) said: “The life of a writer can be both lonely and a financial struggle. This bursary honours Luke’s idea to assist fledgling writers through what can be a bleak time before a novel is flying off the shelves and generating sufficient royalties to provide a proper income. Legend Press has been a huge support since Luke’s death and it is fantastic to see so many authors benefitting from Luke's Bursary."
For information on Luke please visit www.lukebitmead.com
