Goldsboro Books launches contemporary fiction prize

Goldsboro Books has launched a new £2,000 prize for “compelling” contemporary fiction.

The Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award will be given annually to a “compelling” novel with “brilliant characterisation” and a “distinct voice that is confidently written and assuredly realised”.

It is open to “standout” novels across all genres, with the first prize given to a novel published between 1st January 2016 – 31st December 2016.

It will be judged by the bookshop’s managing director David Headley and his team at Goldsboro Books, based on what they have read and enjoyed throughout the year.

Headley told The Bookseller: “Whilst there are many prizes celebrating fiction, most seem to limit themselves to either debut fiction, literary fiction or genre fiction. We wanted to provide an award that will take into account contemporary fiction of all genres. We are in a position where we get to read and see all of the fiction being published and it felt only right that we could celebrate the wonderful array of novels being published from our unique vantage point.”

He added: “We believe that these fine novels being published deserve all the attention they can get, and we would like to be able to help further highlight them in some small way.”

The longlist will be announced at Goldsboro Books’ annual Crime in the Court event, celebrating crime fiction, on June 29th to coincide with Independent Booksellers Week.

The winner will be announced on the 28th September, when Goldsboro Books will hold its 18th birthday party ,and an announcement will be made during the celebrations.

Enquiries can be made at glass.bell@goldsborobooks.com