Winners announced for the inaugural Canelo and I Am In Print novel award

Following a collaboration with the writing community I Am In Print, Canelo recently announced the winners of the 2023 novel award. First prize was awarded to Maggie Formella-Leigh for her romantic novel, Love Is Not Enough, who expressed her pleasure upon learning that she was the overall winner. 

‘I remember winning a prize in a short story competition when I was twelve years old. That was the first time I thought about becoming a writer. Last year, this idea popped into my head and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. A little over ten months later, Love Is Not Enough was finished. I entered the I Am In Print Novel Award 2023 after working throughout summer on redrafting and revising. But winning didn’t even cross my mind. I was shocked and deeply moved when I found out. The prize definitely increased the confidence I have in my writing and gave me hope that people might want to read what I have to say. I’m honoured and thrilled that the judges loved Caroline and Hunter’s story and hope that one day soon readers far and wide will be able to get to know them too.’

Second prize was awarded for the historical fiction novel The Adventures of Isaiah Ollenu by Paula Lennon, who said: ‘I’m delighted to have placed second in this great competition, and so thrilled the judges enjoyed reading all about 18th century Isaiah’s odyssey from Bristol to Jamaica!’

Third prize was awarded to Marisa Linton for her Victorian gothic tale Circle of Shadows, who said: ‘I’m so happy to see Circle of Shadows placed third, and especially to hear that the Canelo judges were “enraptured” with the characters and their relationships, and by the eerie sense of dread. Huge thanks to the Canelo judges and readers and to Elane and Sarah at I Am In Print.’

The judgements were made by the Canelo editorial team, and the prize was open to novelists not currently under contract, with entrants required to submit a full length, previously unpublished work. The winner of first prize received £1,000 and a 60-minute editorial one-to-one, with both second and third place winning a 30-minute one-to-one with a Canelo commissioning editor. Canelo publishing director Louise Cullen spoke on behalf of the judges to say:

‘It’s a privilege to have joined forces on this inaugural award with I Am In Print and the team at Canelo hope that the process of entering, along with the masterclasses, has encouraged budding novelists that publishing is for them, and publishers want to hear what they have to say. The standard of entry was extremely high and we thought long and hard about who to place but I’m delighted we have been able to give support to writers at the early stages of their careers and hopefully boost their profiles as well as their confidence.’

Further information about the event and information about other opportunities open to novelists can be found on the website https://www.iaminprint.co.uk/.