A Remarkable Year for Uduak-Abasi Ekong

Our Writers' Prize alumni are a pretty inspiring bunch and this update is no exception.

Uduak-Abasi Ekong

Uduak-Abasi Ekong, winner of the Book Edit Writers' Prize 2025, has had an outstanding year. She was named runner-up for the inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction 2026, and shortlisted for the Women's Prize Discoveries 2026. On top of this, she won first prize in the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize 2026 for her story The Prodigal Father, which appears in the New Short Stories 2026 anthology and was published online by Wasafiri just this week. You can read it here.

It's a remarkable run of recognition, and exactly the kind of trajectory we hope for every writer who comes through our prize. Congratulations, Uduak-Abasi. We can’t wait to see what you do next!

With just three days left to enter this year's prize, we hope her story gives you the final push to submit your own. Entries close 5pm, Friday 16 October!

From Prize Recognition to Published Author

This week's alumni updates are a lovely illustration of something we have found to be true over six years of running The Book Edit Writers’ Prize: being selected brings writers that vital confidence they need to continue to develop their work.

Kay Inckle's novel Overspill, a finalist in the inaugural Writers' Prize under its original title, Tipping Point, is now out in paperback with SRL Publishing. Kay told us: ‘Being a finalist gave me a real boost, the purpose to finish the rewriting and the confidence to keep going with the sometimes gruelling submission process. Prizes like this, for underrepresented writers, are such an important chance to shift the dial in the publishing world.’

Bernie McQuillan, a past prize winner, has published her debut novel, The Lobster Pot, with Indie Novella. Bernie said ‘It was a privilege to be a part of the Writer's Prize and working with the group of winners and the Book Edit team. Not only is being selected as a winner incredibly helpful to your writing CV, the practical training for a public reading (with agents and an audience) as well as the camaraderie with other winners is fantastic.’

It’s wonderful to see that journey culminate in the publication of her debut novel.

Congratulations to both Kay and Bernie!

On the subject of recognition, we're continuing this year with our expansion of what it means to be shortlisted. Every shortlisted writer will have their entry recorded and spotlit on our website, with an accompanying email campaign and social media boost. Even more reasons to enter!

Entries close 5pm, 16 October, 2026.

Just ten days to submit your work!

On the Shelves Now: Two Debuts from Our Writers' Prize Alumni

One of the joys of running the Writers' Prize is watching entrants go on to see their books published. This month we have two lovely examples to share.

Bren Gosling's debut novel, Street Sweeper, is out now with Troubador. Bren was one of our inaugural Writers’ Prize winners five years ago. It's a milestone that speaks to the persistence so many of our writers show long after their time with the prize ends; we're delighted to see his novel out in the world.

Inaugural Writers’ Prize winner Bren Gosling’s debut novel, Street Sweeper

Martin Milton has been even busier, publishing not one but two books with Troubador in the past twelve months. I, Jack Parker? is a novel of early trauma and psychological distress set in New York, while Common Life is a nature novella exploring quieter, gentler territory.

Martin Milton’s debut I, Jack Parker

Huge congratulations to Bren and Martin!

Entries for this year's Writers' Prize are open now and close on 16 October.

Find out more and enter here.

Hot Off the Press: Felicity Yeoh to publish debut novel with Hodder Fiction

Former Writers’ Prize winner Felicity Yeoh has sold her debut adult novel, The Twilight Dumpling House, to Hodder Fiction, via her agent at Paper Literary. Described as a ‘sumptuous feast of a novel,’ it's set in the heart of London's Chinatown and follows the Chong family – husband and wife Tony and Lin and their daughters, Jen and Vivian – and their extraordinary restaurant.

Under the twilight haze, the family's dumplings take on magical properties. But when Tony falls seriously ill, Jen and Vivian have to take over the family business. With their relationship already under duress, the future of The Twilight Dumpling House hangs in the balance.

It's a fantastic moment in an already remarkable year for Felicity, who has also published two picture books in 2026: The Kingdom of Tigers with HarperCollins, featuring an afterword by UN Goodwill Ambassador and actor Michelle Yeoh, and Yum Yum Dim Sum, out this January with Little Tiger.

Huge congratulations, Felicity! We can't wait to read The Twilight Dumpling House when it publishes.

“The Book Edit Prize was a really special experience for me. It was a real treat to meet the other writers and hear their stories at the online showcase. I’d never read my work aloud before, so having Rebecca’s expert training really gave me the confidence to take part - and even to enjoy it! Being part of such a prestigious award meant that my work was shared with some incredible agents - I had a full manuscript request before we’d even finished the Zoom session!”

— Felicity Yeoh

With four weeks left to enter this year's Writers' Prize, we hope Felicity's news is exactly the encouragement you need to submit your own work. Entries close 5pm, 16 October.

From the Prize to the Page: Two Fresh Successes from Our Writers' Prize Alumni

With entries for the 2026 Writers' Prize now open, we’re sharing news of what our past entrants go on to achieve. This week, two recent updates…

David McGrath has just sold his novel – an extract of which won the Writers’ Prize in 2024 – to groundbreaking publishers Peninsula Press. Now titled Donkey Christ and currently in the editing process, it's due out in 2027. Early word has it described as ‘wild, bawdy and delightfully blasphemous!’ We can't wait to read the finished book.

Meanwhile, Jane Coucaris – longlisted for the 2025 Writers' Prize with her novel Fireflies – has just signed with top literary agent Stephanie Glencross at David Higham Associates.

Congratulations to David and Jane!

If their news has whetted your appetite, entries for this year's Writers' Prize close at 5pm on 16 October. Full details and how to enter can be found here. Good luck!