Graham wins Luke Bitmead Writer's Bursary

Unpublished writer Joanne Graham has won the 2012 Luke Bitmead Writer's Bursary for her debut novel Lacey's House.

Graham's novel will be published by Legend Press in summer 2013, and she also receives a £2,500 cheque.

Legend Press m.d. Tom Chalmers said: "Lacey’s House is a beautifully evocative and powerful novel, with great commercial potential and we very much look forward to working with Joanne in the run up to publication next year. The judges were enthralled by Joanne’s engaging writing style, and felt readers would be gripped by her powerful narrative style.”

Two additional prizes were given for the 2nd and 3rd-placed writers: Stacey Matheson for her novel Hospital Corners, and Andrew Stevens for his novel The Poet.

The bursary, now in its fifth year, is funded by the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund, founded by Luke's family in association with Legend Press in 2006, shortly after Luke's death, aged 34. This year's award was given on 29th November.

Bitmead's mother Elaine Hanson said: "The Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund has been set up for two reasons, firstly to give support to unpublished fledgling writers, particularly those who have striven to work through the disempowering feelings of anxiety and depression. Secondly to eradicate the stigma that prevents mental health problems being discussed openly enabling support and understanding. With the rock solid support of Legend Press it feels as if we are helping to encourage creativity and inspirevopenness and compassion."