Doyle wins W&A Working-Class Writers’ Prize 2023 for 'electric' debut novel

Jon Doyle has won the Writers & Artists Working-Class Writers’ Prize 2023 for his debut novel Tenebrae. 

Doyle was chosen as the winner from 283 entries, and will receive a £200 cash prize, mentoring sessions with author and judge Kasim Ali, access to a number of W&A events, one year’s membership to The Society of Authors, a writing guide bundle and a selection of Bloomsbury books.  

Originally from Port Talbot in south Wales, Doyle has an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University and a PhD from Swansea University. His writing has appeared in the Rumpus, 3:AM Magazine and other sources. 

Ali said: “Tenebrae is such an electric piece of writing. There is an energy here that is hard to emulate. I love the descriptions, the dialogue, the way it moves. It is a wonderful, brilliant piece of work. This is someone with a voice, with something to say, with a natural talent.”  

This marks the fifth year of the W&A Working-Class Writers’ Prize. The prize is supported by The Society of Authors and will welcome BBC Maestro as an additional partner next year.  

For further information, or if you’d like to register interest in supporting the prize, please email clare.povey@bloomsbury.com.