Lakeland Book of the Year winners revealed

An autobiographical novel about a family’s move from London to a derelict castle in the Cumbrian fells has been crowned the Lakeland Book of the Year 2014.
 
Undressed For Dinner (Hayloft Publishing) by Simon Temple-Bennett scooped the £1,000 prize this afternoon (Tuesday 15th July) at a special literary luncheon, held at the Inn on the Lake Hotel on the shores of Ullswater, Cumbria.
 
The judges for the award were: author and columnist Hunter Davies, broadcaster and writer Eric Robson and BBC News broadcaster Fiona Armstrong. They picked winners in five award categories and then the overall winner from 60 submissions.
 
Davies, who founded the awards, said: “It really has been a vintage year for Cumbrian books. The range of subjects covered has amazed me. I really must applaud the efforts of all who entered, they should all be congratulated for their sterling contribution to Cumbria’s rich literary landscape.’’
 
Undressed For Dinner, which charts how Temple-Bennett and his wife turned their home into an internationally-renowned hotel, was also victorious in the Zeffirellis Prize for People and Business category.
 
The overall runner up and winner of the David Winkworth Prize for Illustration and Presentation was Hunting Scraps: The Hunting Diary of CJ Cropper by Sir James Cropper (Ellergreen Press). The book is a collection of more than 300 watercolour drawings by paper-maker Charles James Cropper of his hunting exploits between 1877 and 1924 paper, reproduced in the Cropper family mill and accompanied by Cropper’s descriptive captions.
 
The Striding Edge Prize for Guides and Places went to Stuart Miller’s Canoe & Kayak Guide to North West England (Rivers Publishing UK), which provide descriptions of 110 rivers from the Scottish Border to Greater Manchester, with 150 detailed maps.
 
It's a Hill, Get Over It by Steve Chilton (Sandstone Press), was awarded the Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape and Tradition. The book offers a detailed history of the sport of fell running, including in-depth conversations with some of the sport’s greats. I
 
The winner of the Bookends Prize for Arts and Literature was Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly (Bantam Press). The novel poses the question of what happens when your best friend’s child disappears on your watch. When this happens to Lisa Kallisto in the Lake District, she sets out to right the wrong but, as she investigates the disappearance, she learns that her hometown and her friends might not be what they appear to be.
 
Lakeland Book of the Year organizer, Chris Tomlinson, said: ‘’We've had superb support for these awards from people and businesses across Cumbria, this year more than ever, but also throughout the 30 years of the competition's existence. Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised for Cumbrian charities in the process. The real star is Hunter Davies himself, who, few people realise, personally funds these Awards and ensures they continue. No other region in the UK is so fortunate. This is what Cumbria is about - working together to enrich our community.’’
 
Ian Stephens, Cumbria Tourism’s managing director, said: ‘’The Lakeland Book of the Year Awards are a constant source of inspiration for all those that love this magnificent County. The vast library of books about its people, places, flora and fauna, our rich cultural heritage and full range of factual and fictional writing never ceases to amaze me. As we can see from the quality of the entries this year, Cumbria truly is an inspirational place.’’
 
The Lakeland Book of the Year Awards were established by author, journalist and broadcaster Davies and Cumbria Tourism. They are open to books by established writers and first-time writers, as long as they have something to do with Cumbria.