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.

ENTER PRIZE

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!