Award winning debut novelist seeks to champion independent bookshops as Booktrust online writer in residence

www.booktrust.org.uk


The 2009 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize winning author Evie Wyld has today been announced as Booktrust’s third online writer in residence. The 29-year-old won the prestigious prize with her debut novel set in Australia, After the Fire, A Still Small Voice, which has since been shortlisted for the 2010 Authors Club First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize.

Evie takes the virtual baton from the Ghanaian performance poet and publisher Nii Parkes who also joins her on the shortlist for the Commonwealth Writers Prize.
Wyld, who has dual Australian and English nationality, currently lives in South London where she works as a bookseller at the Peckham independent bookshop Review. Through her residency she plans to celebrate the individual charm of the independent bookshop at a time when it is reported that as many as two are closing a week. Her residency will peak in September with a special interactive online book club event held in independent bookshops across the UK.

Evie Wyld commented:
‘Being made Booktrust’s online writer in residence is a real honour. I see it as a chance to lift the veil a little on the creative process at the same time as promoting creative writing, books and independent bookshops. It’s also a chance to really think about what it means to be a writer, which, as I’m only working on my second novel, will be something I’ll be learning as I go along.’

Nikesh Shukla, Booktrust Website Editor commented:

‘Evie Wyld is publishing’s Ellie Goulding for 2009/2010. Everyone’s dropping her name as the one to watch, everyone’s scrabbling to get her. She’s a rising star with one illustrious literary award under her belt and further nominations since. As an author and bookseller Evie can offer a unique insight into the publishing world from both sides of the fence and we are extremely excited that she will be sharing her experiences and tips exclusively through her Booktrust online writer in residency.’


The writer in residence programme was launched in March 2009 to run for two years, with a new author taking up the position every six months. Evie takes up her tenure from today, Monday 15 March 2010.

During her time in the post, Evie will contribute one new short story to be published on the Booktrust website, a weekly blog, a video interview with her favourite author, writing tips and advice on getting published, as well as hosting a special interactive online book club meeting.