The Society of Authors announced the winners for their awards including the ADCI Literary Prize, the Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize and the Queen’s Knickers Award.
The 23 winners of the awards were announced last night (18 June) at the Society of Authors Awards ceremony at Southwark Cathedral, sharing a prize fund of over £170,000. The awards are for authors at all stages of their careers, for poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and spanning a variety of genres. Find out about the other awards here.
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 2025 ADCI Literary Prize winner is Helen Heckety for Alter Ego.
Judge Dr Okechukwu Nzelu said:
‘Alter Ego by Helen Heckety is a wonderfully engaging novel. From the opening, it captured me with its warmth, humour, humanity and honesty. Heckety is a profoundly insightful writer who has carefully plotted a complex story that will make you laugh out loud, but is unafraid to talk about difficult things. At the heart of that story is a flawed, feeling and hilarious character, with whom I know readers will fall in love.’
This year’s runners-up are Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands and The Darkest Night by Victoria Hawthorne.
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 2025 Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize winners are Hisham Matar for My Friends.
Judge Elizabeth-Jane Burnett said:
‘My Friends explores the lives of three Libyan men living in political exile through a compassionate and probing lens of friendship. The novel shows how one small act can change the course of a life when narrator, Khaled, joins a demonstration outside the Libyan embassy in London. Through Khaled’s London life we see the value of routine and the quotidian in establishing a sense of belonging, as well as a vibrant portrayal of literary London, encountering places where past writers lived and worked. The writing is sensitive, understated and beautifully expressed.’
And Elif Shafak for There Are Rivers in the Sky.
Judge Jini Reddy said:
‘‘Imbued with a sumptuous and vivid sense of place, There are Rivers in the Sky travels between ancient Mesopotamia, modern day Turkey and Iraq and contemporary London via the capital’s Victorian-era slums. Following the lives of three complex, captivating characters bound by life-giving water and an epic poem, the novel segues effortlessly between enchantment and brutality, the sacred and scholarship, hurt and healing. Shafak is an empathic and wise storyteller, and her tender, elegant prose invites us all to
live more connected, humane and impassioned lives.’
This year’s runner-up is The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya.
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 2025 Queen’s Knickers Award winner is Tiny Fisscher, illustrator Herma Starreveld and translator Laura Watkinson for Bird is Dead.
Judge Davina Hamilton said:
‘Bird Is Dead was a standout story for me, right from the very beginning of the judging process. It goes against the grain of ‘traditional’ children’s stories, by tackling the challenging emotion of grief – and through thoughtful, yet straight-talking storytelling, Tiny Fisscher manages to approach the subject matter in the most humorous and heartwarming way. I absolutely loved the story’s honesty and realism, reflecting that death can sometimes be unexpected, and can evoke a range of questions, feelings and behaviours – including bickering! – among those grieving the loss of their loved one. Herma Starreveld’s use of dark backgrounds, juxtaposed with each bird character’s bright, multicoloured coats, really captures the essence of the story by delivering a visual representation of the many layers of grief. I think this is a really touching story for young readers who are curious about, or personally experiencing the impact of death and grief.’
This year’s runner-up is Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings by Swapna Haddow and illustrator Yiting Lee.
Get involved
What do you think of the 2025 winning 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.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #SoAwards.
Keep up with all the latest news on the Society of Authors’ website.
Want to make sure you never miss the latest book club news? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.
