Waterstones launches £5,000 debut fiction prize

Waterstones is launching a debut fiction prize to “champion new voices” voted for by the chain’s booksellers. 

The prize, worth £5,000, will be open to all debut fiction, including genre fiction such as crime, sci-fi and fantasy as well as fiction in translation. Winners will receive the backing of all Waterstones shops.  

It aims to be an "extension and catalyst for the alchemy of bookseller word-of-mouth recommendation and to give the shortlisted and winning authors the additional exposure and support that comes with such an accolade”, said the company. 

Waterstones already runs the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for debut children’s authors and announces an annual Book of the Year which last year featured debuts by Caleb Azumah Nelson and Janice Hallett on the shortlist.

The inaugural shortlist for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize will be announced on 21st July, followed by the winner announcement on 25th August. 

Bea Carvalho, head of fiction, said: “It is with immense joy that we announce the launch of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize. Our booksellers are consistent champions of emerging talent, often propelling debuts to bestseller status through their passion and energy.

"We are hugely pleased to build on this with a new platform to celebrate our favourite new voices. It is especially exciting to be launching this year when the standard of fiction publishing is so high."