HWA Debut Crown: Submissions now open

The Historical Writers’ Association is pleased to open for submissions for our fourth annual HWA Debut Crown for best first historical novel.  Submitted novels must be a first full length work of fiction with a predominantly historical focus, published by a recognised publisher in the UK. For the purposes of this prize, ‘historical’ is defined as 35 years or more from the date of publication, so in this case, novels must have the majority of the content set in a time period at or prior to 1978.

The current prize dates run from 1st October 2013 to 30th September 2014: any first novel published between these dates which fulfils the other criteria is eligible. Submissions close on 31st January 2015 and novels should be in the hands of the judges by mid-February.  

The short list will be announced at the HWA AGM in June and the winner will be announced at Harrogate History Festival in October.    Full details of the rules can be found on the HWA website at the foot of the Prizes page: http://www.thehwa.co.uk/content/prizes  

Submissions should be by email enquiry in the first instance, made to Lucy Santos (lucy@claromanagement.co.uk) 

The judges this year are: 

KATE ATHERTON  is a well-established book blogger based in Oxford. Her background is in archaeology, publishing and education. She has co-authored and reviewed non-fiction professionally but these days she enjoys nothing more than writing about what she loves most to read: historical fiction and science fiction.
ALEX CLARKE Publishing Director of Penguin Books.  
ROBERT LOW Has been a journalist and writer since the age of 17.  He has covered conflicts in Vietnam, Sarajevo, Albania and Kosovo.  He's a Viking re-enactor and author of the outstanding Oathsworn series of Viking novels, and the exceptional 'Kingdom' series set in the time of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. He is a founding committee member of the HWA.
MANDA SCOTT Novelist, columnist and screenwriter, Manda Scott's first novel was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and her fourth was nominated for an Edgar Award. She is author of the international bestselling Boudica series and Rome series.  She is founder and Chair of the Historical Writers' Association.

ANDREW TAYLOR  Three time winner of the CWA's Historical Dagger, Andrew Taylor’s novels blend crime with historical fiction.  They include the bestseller, The American Boy; the Roth Trilogy (filmed for TV as Fallen Angel); the Lydmouth Series; Bleeding Heart Square; and The Anatomy of Ghosts. His most recent awards are the CWA Diamond Dagger and Sweden’s Martin Beck Award.  He also reviews for the Spectator and the Independent.

DAPHNE WRIGHT (aka NATASHA COOPER) Former CWA Chair, Daphne Wright progressed from a successful publishing career to a career as a highly regarded novelist, broadcaster and reviewer.  She is author of the Trish Maguire series of detective novels and reviews for the Times, TLS and Toronto Globe and Mail.