It's longlist time!
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: we’re delighted to present the longlist of the 2017 Times/ Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition!
Karina Cornwell, Allow It
Nikita Mor, The Beasts of Jambavan
Dale Hannah, Billy Grimshaw and the Mystery of the Missing Humans
Alvy Carragher, The Cantankerous Darlings
Debra Torrington, Carver
Steve Lee, Dreamloader
Laura Baggaley, The Hadannuff Switch
Nicki G. Leask, Heart of Tar
Kathleen Forrester, Jaida Wood and the Man in the Champagne Dress
Linda Browne, The Land Between
Tim Byrne and Emma Dyer, The Living Memory
Katherine Bassford, Minnie and Bogle
Danny Rurlander, Skylark
Jasbinder Bilan, Song of the Mountain
Ruth Griffiths, Violet Bloomfield and the Despicable Dinner Ladies
Virginia Clay, Warrior Boy
This year we opened up online entry and payment for the first time. Unsurprisingly, we had our largest ever number of entries, flooding in from all over the world. Our longlist features entries from the UK, Ireland, India, Canada and Kenya – and the remarkable diversity of origin is reflected in the subject matter too. From funny younger middle-grade to dark and challenging YA, our longlist covers themes such as disability, memory, dreams, death and identity – it’s a longlist full of adventure, friendship, family and discovery, with settings ranging from the African plains to the Himalayas.
So congratulations to all our longlistees! The standard was our highest ever, and you’ve done brilliantly to reach the final sixteen. The shortlist will be announced at the end of April … good luck!
Roger Bonner says...
Congratulations to the winners of this very important competition! I unfortunately didn't make it, but am still eagerly waiting to see who is the winner. For the rest of us, dont't be discouraged - keep on writing!