Thursday, October 23, 2014

A former children's bookseller has won a nationwide search to find the next JK Rowling

Press Release - The Montegrappa Scholastic Prize Winner Announced


The Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children's Writing, in association with The London Book Fair, LBA Books and The Independent, is pleased to announce its inaugural winner - former children's bookseller Laura Wood - for her novel Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh's Curse.

Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh's Curse was chosen from a shortlist of five books, which were picked from over 1,000 competition entries.  The book impressed the judges who praised its "endearing heroine, rollicking plot and zany humour."

Laura wins a publishing deal with Scholastic and agent representation by LBA Books.  Poppy Pym will be launched by Scholastic at The London Book Fair 2015, as part of the Fair's London Book and Screen Week programme of events.

Laura also wins a trip to Italy to visit the historic Montegrappa factory, and a limited edition Montegrappa pen which was presented to her at a ceremony by head judge, Cerrie Burnell and Montegrappa CEO Giuseppe Aquila. The ceremony took place on Tuesday 21st October at Armorial, bespoke stationer at Thomas Goode, Mayfair.  The four runners-up will each receive an editorial session with Samantha Smith of Scholastic and Louise Lamont of LBA Books, in addition to being presented with Montegrappa pens.

Winner Laura Wood:  "It has been the most wonderful surprise and I am completely over the moon. The competition has opened so many doors for me and the other brilliant shortlisted writers, and I hope that this marks the beginning of an exciting adventure for all of us."

Head judge, children's author, Cbeebies presenter and Booktrust patron Cerrie Burnell: "The story of Poppy Pym dances off the page with a quiet grace and heartwarming sense of wonder. Each chapter is sprinkled with just the right mixture of charm and suspense, to keep you hooked and make you smile, whilst an enthralling cast of characters bring the story to life in vivid and quirky detail. Written in accomplished and subtly dazzling prose, Poppy Pym will inspire dreams of horseback acrobatics and masterful circus trickery whilst showing you just how wonderful friendship can be and raising the question do magical curses really exist

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