Ahead of the Prize’s 15th anniversary, this collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for this celebrated literary award.
Lucy Cavendish College is thrilled to announce a partnership with leading agency WME, as the official sponsor of its renowned Fiction Prize, after a competitive selection process that saw pitches from multiple agencies.
Formed in 1898, WME is the longest-running talent agency in the world. At its core, WME Books prides itself on operating as a boutique literary agency within a larger network which covers every area of entertainment. The collaboration comes ahead of the Prize's 15th anniversary and the College’s 60th anniversary in 2025, marking a new chapter for the celebrated literary award.
To kick-off this partnership, an event was held yesterday at the Groucho Club in London. The launch was attended by representatives from Lucy Cavendish College and WME, alongside leading industry figures, members of the press, and previous Fiction Prize winners. It was a resounding success, with attendees celebrating a vision for future years that focuses on growth, while honouring the prestigious prize’s history.
The new logo was also revealed, and 2025 judging panel announced. Critically acclaimed author, journalist, podcaster, speaker and presenter, Candice Brathwaite; Publishing Director at Orion and debut author, Leodora Darlington; English Director of Studies at Lucy Cavendish College, Dr Olivia Krauze; and former former Vice President and Emeritus Fellow of the College, Dr Lindsay Traub. Head judge is poet, playwright and bestselling novelist, Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
"We are delighted to welcome WME as our new sponsor," said Lucy Cavendish College Assistant Professor in English, Dr Olivia Krauze. "Their commitment to supporting and amplifying diverse voices aligns perfectly with the ethos of our prize. This partnership will undoubtedly elevate the prize's profile and provide even greater opportunities for talented unpublished women and non-binary writers."
“Winning sponsorship of the prize is a huge honour for us. We have big plans for a relaunch and extensive growth with events, partnerships and a mentoring programme in development. We are a home for exceptional talent and our expanding team of agents in London is excited to partner with the team at Lucy Cavendish College,” said Hellie Ogden and Matilda Forbes Watson, co-heads of UK Books.
The Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize will open for entries in November 2024. Aspiring writers are encouraged to visit the College's website for further details and submission guidelines.
About the prize
Established in 2010, the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize has a rich history of championing unpublished and unrepresented writers. It has earned a reputation for discovering exceptional literary talent and propelling numerous debut authors towards successful careers.
Several past winners of the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize have gone on to achieve remarkable success in the literary world. To name a few, Gail Honeyman (2014 shortlist) topped the fiction charts with her novel Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Sara Collins’ debut, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, (2016 shortlist) was published in 2019 and won the Costa First Novel Award. 2023 winner, Sarah Harman's debut novel All The Other Mothers Hate Me will be published in Spring 2025, and has been sold into fourteen territories so far. It will be adapted for TV by FX and Christopher Storer, creator of The Bear, who won rights to the title in a bidding war with more than a dozen companies.
