The Friends of the Book Council of Wales our holding a competition to find new ideas for Welsh-language novels for young adults, and are offering a generous prize.

Authors are asked to send the first few chapters of a Welsh-language novel for young adults, together with a synopsis of the remainder of the novel by 20 February 2020.

The competition will be adjudicated by the author Meinir Pierce Jones, the composer and former librarian Robat Arwyn Jones, and Gwawr Maelor, a lecturer in Welsh-language education at Bangor University, in consultation with young readers.

The winner will receive £1000, awarded by the Friends of the Books Council of Wales, with the hope that the winning novel will be published within a year.

The competition is open to all, both new and established authors.

Competition requirements

Write the first few chapters of a Welsh-language novel for young adults, and provide a synopsis of the remainder of the novel.

The adjudicators are Meinir Pierce Jones, Robart Arwyn Jones, Gwawr Maelor. The adjudicators will also consult young readers for their opinion.

Prize

£1,000, with the hope that the winning novel will be published within a year.

The adjudicators will share their feedback with publishers in Wales, in the hope that the best entries will be commissioned.

Closing date for submissions

The first few chapters and the synopsis should be sent under a pseudonym to cyfeillion@llyfrau.cymru by 20 February 2020. Electronic submissions only.

Announcing the winner

The name of the winner will be announced at the 2020 Urdd Eisteddfod at Denbigh, with hope that the winning novel will be published within a year. For further information, contact: cyfeillion@llyfrau.cymru