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What a blast! We had a fantastic time yesterday at our Big Breakfast event, not only celebrating our 2025 authors and a very special 25th anniversary of the Coop, but we also hosted the Times/Chicken House Competition judging panel ... AND announced the winners!

The fantastic judging panel consisted of chairman and publisher Barry Cunningham, The Times reporter and children’s book critic Lucy Bannerman, agent Lydia Silver, children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, literary scout Tessa Girvan, and Co-Head of Kids and Family at Lime Pictures, Tim Compton. They provided some fantastic and thoughtful feedback, a huge thank you to each one of our judges for their time and attention on our six shortlisted manuscripts – you are all stars!

Well, the time has come …

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

The overall prize, the Times/Chicken House award – the prize of which is a £10,000 publishing contract and the offer of agent representation – was won by Lucas Maxwell and his novel You Have Selected Power Drive!

You Have Selected Power Drive is the story of Elias, an autistic fourteen-year-old boy growing up in a snowy rural town. Unbeknownst to Elias, his older brother Bo struggles with addiction. Pitched as being for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, judges praised Maxwell’s accomplished writing and the endearing warmth of the story.

The Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award, awarded to the novel which shows the greatest TV development potential, was won by Tommy Finlayson and The Cornershop on Apocalypse Street. Tommy Finlayson wins a £7,500 publishing contract and the offer of representation from agent Lydia Silver.

Described by judge Frank Cottrell-Boyce as an ‘idea I wish I’d had first’, The Cornershop on Apocalypse Street is a post-apocalyptic YA story, about an interdimensional cornershop that travels to different apocalypses and fixes them for free. Judges were spellbound by the originality and scope of the novel.

Many congratulations to both winners - we are all looking forward to working with you here at the Coop!

Congratulations, too, to the rest of our shortlist for reaching the final six – the judges had a tough time deciding on the final two! We’ll be providing all of you with detailed feedback based on the panel’s thoughts.

The competition will be re-opening soon for 2025 entries - watch this space for more information!