The Society of Authors has announced the ‘incantatory, spell-binding and resonant’ shortlists for their awards including the ADCI Literary Prize, the Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize and the Queen’s Knickers Award.
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 18 June at Southwark Cathedral and will share a prize fund of over £170,000. The awards ceremony will be hosted by Helen Epega and keynote speaker Joseph Coelho, with words of introduction by Management Committee Chair, Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, and a video welcome from The Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley. Winners of the Travelling Scholarships, Cholmondeley Awards, Eric Gregory Awards and Somerset Maugham Awards will also be announced on the night.
Tickets to the in-person event can be purchased here. The event will be livestreamed. Online attendance is free with RSVP available via this link.
The ADCI Literary Prize
Sponsored by Arts Council England, the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), the Drusilla Harvey Memorial Fund, and the Professional Writing Academy, the ADCI Literary Prize is awarded to a disabled or chronically ill writer, for an outstanding novel containing a disabled or chronically ill character or characters.
Judged by Dr. Pragya Agarwal, Penny Batchelor, James Catchpole, Rachel Charlton-Dailey, Linda Corbett, Selina Mills and Okechukwu Nze. The total prize fund is £2,000.
- The Darkest Night by Victoria Hawthorne
- Alter Ego by Helen Heckety
- Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands
Judge Penny Batchelor said:
‘This year’s shortlisted books all have powerful plots that pack a punch, immersing the reader in finely-crafted worlds and situations that can shock, cause the shedding of tears, an out loud belly laugh, or silent recognition of solidarity with their multifaceted characters. Covering historical, literary and contemporary fiction, there’s something on the shortlist for any reader who wants to eschew outmoded disability stereotypes and engage with powerful stories showing the realities of living a disabled life.’
The Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize
The Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize is awarded to a UK or Irish writer, or a writer currently resident in those countries, for a novel focusing on the experience of travel away from home. In memory of Malcolm Lowry and endowed by Gordon Bowker, his biographer, and Ramdei Bowker.
Judged by Dr. Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Derek Owusu and Jini Reddy. The total prize fund is £2,750.
- The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
- The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya
- My Friends by Hisham Matar
- You Are Here by David Nicholls
- There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
- Glif by Ali Smith
Judge Jini Reddy said:
’The books on this year’s Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize shortlist transport the reader to worlds perilous, political, speculative and amorous. Elif Shafak’s There Are Rivers in the Sky begins in ancient Mesopotamia and is a wondrous riverine odyssey. Set in London and Libya, My Friends by Hisham Matar offers a profound meditation on the pain of exile and the salve of friendship. In the immaculately crafted The Hypocrite, the fuse for a generational feud is lit on an Aeolian island. Matt Haig’s The Life Impossible enchants on a boundary-transcending journey through Ibiza. The dystopian near-future Britain-set Gliff by Ali Smith movingly articulates the courage that resistance demands of us. And in David Nicholls’ witty and touching You Are Here, a pas-de-deux between two lonely hikers unfolds across the Lake District. These six titles deserve to be savoured for their arresting world views, evocations of resilience and glorious, immersive storytelling.’
The Queen’s Knickers Award
Sponsored by its founder Nicholas Allan, the Queen’s Knickers Award is an annual prize for an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7. It recognises books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement.
Judged by Dapo Adeola, Davina Hamilton and Soofiya. The total prize fund is £6,000.
- The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk by Anne Booth (Author) and David Litchfield (Illustrator)
- The Pandas Who Promised by Rachel Bright (Author) and Jim Field (Illustrator)
- Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales by Catherine Cawthorne (Author) and Sara Ogilvie (Illustrator)
- Bird is Dead by Tiny Fisscher (Author), Laura Watkinson (Translator) and Herma Starreveld (Illustrator)
- Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings by Swapna Haddow (Author) and Yiting Lee (Illustrator)
- No. 5 Bubblegum Street by Mikolaj Pa (Author), Scotia Gilroy (Translator) and Gosia Herba (Illustrator)
Judge Davina Hamilton said:
‘The variety of books on the 2025 Queen’s Knickers shortlist – in terms of both literary feel and artistic style – made this a very difficult competition to judge. From heartwarming and comical tales to imaginative laugh-out-louds; thought-provoking stories to inspiring and reflective reads – each story had something special to offer. So, picking the winner and runner-up certainly required a lot of discussion and debate! While judging so many brilliant books was challenging, the experience served as a reminder that there is likely a story out there for every child to connect with, if they are encouraged to embrace the joy of reading.’
Get involved
What do you think of the 2025 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
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