Leeds literature prize needs book lovers for its judging panel

The Leeds-based SI Leeds Literary Prize is a biennial award for unpublished fiction by UK-based Black and Asian women. The prize aims to act as a loudspeaker for underrepresented voices and to connect writers with new audiences and opportunities.

Alongside the main prize, they also run the SI Readers’ Choice Award, which is chosen by a panel of volunteer readers, who select their favourite from the prize’s shortlist of six manuscripts.

Judging for that will begin in September, and the prize is now looking for book lovers who would like to join their volunteer reader team and help select the 2024 winner.

This additional award is particularly valuable for the writers involved, as it offers a chance to receive feedback from readers, with unpublished manuscripts that may not have been read by many people.

The 2022 SI Readers’ Choice Award winner, Dr Laura Fish, will see her award-winning novel, Lying Perfectly Still, published this autumn by Manchester-based Fly on the Wall Press.

Book lovers can find out more about the SI Readers’ Choice Award opportunity by visiting the SI Leeds Literary Prize website. 

If you would like to sign up, please email audience@sileedsliteraryprize.com by Friday 30 August 2024.