Faber and Eddie Gamarra launch the Action! Prize for 'fast-paced and filmic' adventure stories

Faber has launched the Action! Prize for "fast-paced and filmic, action-packed adventure stories", in conjunction with Literary manager and film/TV producer Eddie Gamarra. 

The prize has been set up in response to research from the National Literacy Trust, which revealed that children’s reading enjoyment is at its lowest level in almost two decades. "We are all alarmed at the falling number of children reading for pleasure, especially when it comes to boys; it is clear they are not finding enough of what they need on the shelves," said Faber publisher Leah Thaxton.

Writers without agents in the UK and US are eligible to apply for the prize, and three winners will be awarded a publishing contract. The winner of the first prize will also receive a £12,000 advance, with the second prize including a £9,000 advance and the third prize a £6,000 advance.

Entries must feature a "diverse cast of fully rounded characters" for readers aged 7 to 9, 9 to 11, 12 to 14, or over 14. Writers should submit the first 5,000 words, as well as a full synopsis of the novel in 500 words maximum. The prize is open to fiction and graphic novel submissions, but not non-fiction.

Gamarra will be judging the prize alongside Kieran Larwood, author of The World of Podkin One-Ear series (Faber), and with the support of EmpathyLab—a charity that focuses on building children’s empathy through literature.

Thaxton added: "I’m keen we offer a much wider range of instantly appealing, action-packed stories that will compete with the adrenaline rush of gaming and screens. We know books are vital to children’s development, so this prize is a call-out for high octane, filmic, thrilling fiction that will get children hooked (back) into books." 

Judge Gamarra added: "As a studio executive at Nickelodeon, I’ve seen so many disheartening reports about the drop off in reading, especially for boys. I laud Thaxton’s bold initiative to foreground propulsive, kinetic storytelling in order to foster the next generation of life-long lovers of literature, and am proud to be co-founder of this inaugural event."

Miranda McKearney OBE, founder of EmpathyLab, commented: "This generation of boys face so many issues, including toxic masculinity, where an empathy education would help. Scientific research shows that empathy is learnable, and that books are a powerful tool to build it. So this Faber prize is a really welcome, practical initiative."

The closing date for entries is 30th January 2025, and the winners will be announced on 30th April 2025.