Announcing Our 2026 Writers’ Prize Judge

We're delighted to announce that our judge for this year’s Book Edit Writers’ Prize will be friend of The Book Edit and talented author, teacher and editor Emily Midorikawa.

Emily has just published her debut novel, A Tiny Speck of Black and Then Nothing, with Manilla Press, a story exploring memory, identity and disappearance set in the nightlife of Osaka.

She is also a winner of the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and author of the group biographies Out of the Shadows: Six Visionary Victorian Women in Search of a Public Voice and A Secret Sisterhood: The Hidden Friendships of Austen, Brontё, Eliot and Woolf (the latter cowritten with Emma Claire Sweeney).

Speaking about the prize, Emily says, ‘I know from personal experience what a difference entering prizes can make to emerging writers, particularly those from groups currently underrepresented in UK publishing. I'm absolutely thrilled to be judging this year's Book Edit Writers’ Prize, and can't wait to get started on reading the entries.’

We can't wait to see the prize through Emily’s eyes this year, and to celebrate her wonderful debut alongside our writers.

Full details on this year's prize, including key dates, submission guidelines and how to enter, will be announced next month, along with a special spotlight on Emily and her journey to publication.

A Slower August

The Book Edit will be slowing down for August. We'll still be picking up emails, just a little more slowly than usual, but we’ll be back to full speed in September, ready for prize submissions and all the exciting projects ahead.

Wishing you all a wonderful, restful summer, and happy writing in the meantime!