Hilary Mantel fiction prize aims to boost debut writers
The Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction is a biennial award for unpublished writers. The winner will receive a cash prize, mentorship from a literary agent, and a place on a residential writing course run by the Arvon Foundation.
The announcement was made to coincide with the third anniversary of her death.
Dame Mantel, known for her award-winning historical novels such as Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, lived for some years in Budleigh Salterton with her husband, Gerald McEwen.
She was honorary president of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival for the final decade of her life and frequently supported new writers and emerging talent, both through mentoring and via the festival’s Emerging Writers’ Panel.
Locally, she made significant contributions and donated the proceeds from auctioning off the desk she used for writing her Cromwell trilogy to the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival’s literacy activities in local schools.
Despite intending to move to Ireland later in life, she remained deeply involved in the festival’s programme and planning until her death in September 2022, aged 70.
Sue Briggs, chair of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, welcomed the news.
She said: “We are so delighted to hear about the new emerging writer’s literary prize being set up by Hilary’s agents and publishers together with Arvon.
“Hilary was always so generous with her time and support for authors, which is why so many of them were happy to support the Budleigh Literary Festival and continue to do so.
“The prize is a way to not only continue her legacy but also to celebrate brilliant and engaging writing.”
Gareth Thomas, also speaking on behalf of the festival, added: “We are very pleased and exceedingly proud that a new literary prize has been set up in her memory.
“The success of the festival has been reinforced for many years by the enthusiastic support of the late Dame Hilary Mantel.
“She was particularly supportive of new and emerging writers – something we plan to continue by organising a debut authors event in her name.”
