Summits, prizes, bestsellers, Christmas carols and more! Here’s what’s been happening at Midas this week:
Announcing Author HQ and Writers’ Summit Line-up
On Thursday, The London Book Fair 2025 has announced the line-up of its offering for writers – Author HQ and Writer’s Summit, revealing the speakers and topics across these events including many notable author and industry names, such as: Adele Parks, Beth O’Leary, Bobby Palmer, Elif Shafak, Black British Book Festival, Lou Gilmond, The Booksellers Association, Society of Authors, The Women’s Prize Trust & many more.
Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize announces key dates for 2025
This week we shared the 2025 dates for the world’s largest and most prestigious literary prize for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize –
Thursday 23 January 2025: LONGLIST & judges announcement
Thursday 20 March 2025: SHORTLIST announcement
Wednesday 14 May 2025: Shortlist celebration event at the British Library on Dylan Thomas Day
Thursday 15 May 2025: WINNER announcement, award ceremony in Swansea
Worth £20,000, this global accolade recognises exceptional literary talent aged 39 or under, celebrating the international world of fiction in all its forms including poetry, novels, short stories and drama.
The prize is named after the Swansea-born writer Dylan Thomas and celebrates his 39 years of creativity and productivity. The prize invokes his memory to support the writers of today, nurture the talents of tomorrow, and celebrate international literary excellence.
Previous winners include Arinze Ifeakandu, Patricia Lockwood, Max Porter, Raven Leilani, Bryan Washington, Guy Gunaratne, and Kayo Chingonyi, with last year’s prize awarded to Caleb Azumah Nelson for his novel Small Worlds.
Bookshop.org’s Top 10 Bestsellers of the Year
On Wednesday, Bookshop.org will unveil, for the first time, its top 10 bestsellers of the year. Sharing the books that have performed best in 2024 by unit volume gives a unique insight into Bookshop.org’s customers and their reading preferences. With Led By Donkeys charting at number one, followed by Booker winner Orbital and Cold War Steve, Bookshop.org’s best-sellers include quality fiction, indie presses, female writers, and conscious living.
The Book Trade Carol Service
We’ve been helping spread the world about The Book Trade Carol Service, an annual celebration for publishing professionals taking place for the very first time on Thursday 12th December this year, hosted by The Book Trade Charity and Christian publisher SPCK. Taking place at St Alban The Martyr Church in Holborn, the service featured appearances from a range of author and industry speakers including author and historian Tom Holland, as well as lots of Christmas carols, mulled wine and mince-pies.
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