Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
@writingawards.bsky.social
International Writing for Children/YA competition.
https://www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
https://www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/
Pinned
We have decided to take a short break in 2025 to give our entrants time to work on amazing new stories. Our next competition will be opening in 2026. Best of luck with your writing and see you all soon!
BOOK NEWS. @jax-king.bsky.social and @samanthaleduc.bsky.social teamed up for our Best Illustrated Picture Book 2023 competition. Now their shortlisted book is published! Wow! 🥳 Couldn’t be more proud of our author/illustrator pair. ❤️
✨HE’S OUT!✨Stinky Cyril is on the loose! 😍 @tinytreebooks.bsky.social @samanthaleduc.bsky.social #Kidlit #NewPB #Bears #Funny #Authorly @waterstones.bsky.social @winstonesidmouth.bsky.social 🥳🐻❤️
April 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
BOOK NEWS. @jax-king.bsky.social and @samanthaleduc.bsky.social teamed up for our Best Illustrated Picture Book 2023 competition. Now their shortlisted book is published! Wow! 🥳 Couldn’t be more proud of our author/illustrator pair. ❤️
AGENT NEWS. Not one but two offers of representation for our fabulous Best Novel Opening 2024 shortlistee @mcalvani.bsky.social . Wow! Mayra has now signed with the equally fabulous @keslupo.bsky.social of @maasslitagency.bsky.social . What a perfect match! Huge congrats, Mayra.
April 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
AGENT NEWS. Not one but two offers of representation for our fabulous Best Novel Opening 2024 shortlistee @mcalvani.bsky.social . Wow! Mayra has now signed with the equally fabulous @keslupo.bsky.social of @maasslitagency.bsky.social . What a perfect match! Huge congrats, Mayra.
BOOK NEWS. This story was shortlisted in Searchlight’s Best Picture Book Text 2022 competition - and now it’s a published book! So happy for you @nadineholland.bsky.social . 👏👏👏
Happy #PublicationDay, @nadineholland.bsky.social! 📖✨
Mina the Mighty by Nadine Holland and Wenny Stefanie is out now: amzn.to/3ZB8mmI
#kidlit
Mina the Mighty by Nadine Holland and Wenny Stefanie is out now: amzn.to/3ZB8mmI
#kidlit
March 28, 2025 at 7:57 AM
BOOK NEWS. This story was shortlisted in Searchlight’s Best Picture Book Text 2022 competition - and now it’s a published book! So happy for you @nadineholland.bsky.social . 👏👏👏
Our super-talented listee Amanda Addison has been shortlisted for The New Angle Prize 2025 with her YA novel Looking for Lucie. We are so proud of her. ❤️
March 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Our super-talented listee Amanda Addison has been shortlisted for The New Angle Prize 2025 with her YA novel Looking for Lucie. We are so proud of her. ❤️
We have decided to take a short break in 2025 to give our entrants time to work on amazing new stories. Our next competition will be opening in 2026. Best of luck with your writing and see you all soon!
March 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
We have decided to take a short break in 2025 to give our entrants time to work on amazing new stories. Our next competition will be opening in 2026. Best of luck with your writing and see you all soon!
Our Winners’ Gallery for Best Novel Opening and Best Picture Book Text 2024 is now live! See who won, read short extracts of the stories… Congratulations to all! 👏👏👏
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/winners-gall...
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/winners-gall...
March 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Our Winners’ Gallery for Best Novel Opening and Best Picture Book Text 2024 is now live! See who won, read short extracts of the stories… Congratulations to all! 👏👏👏
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/winners-gall...
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/winners-gall...
The moment we sent out our Agent/Publisher Pitch Book of Winning Stories @gavin-crippin.bsky.social started getting interest. ‘Such a great voice!’ was the general opinion. Things moved at lightning speed and we’re delighted to say that Gavin has now accepted representation. Fantastic news! 🥳
March 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The moment we sent out our Agent/Publisher Pitch Book of Winning Stories @gavin-crippin.bsky.social started getting interest. ‘Such a great voice!’ was the general opinion. Things moved at lightning speed and we’re delighted to say that Gavin has now accepted representation. Fantastic news! 🥳
BOOK NEWS - We’re seeing Olivia Wakeford’s book EVERYWHERE! 🥳 Back in 2021 My Dog was one of our competition entries and our readers fell in love with it. ❤️Since then Olivia’s joined our reading team and she’s brilliant at selecting stories for the longlist, too. Massive congrats, Olivia.
March 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
BOOK NEWS - We’re seeing Olivia Wakeford’s book EVERYWHERE! 🥳 Back in 2021 My Dog was one of our competition entries and our readers fell in love with it. ❤️Since then Olivia’s joined our reading team and she’s brilliant at selecting stories for the longlist, too. Massive congrats, Olivia.
AGENT NEWS! Huge congratulations to the winner of Searchlight’s Best Picture Book Text 2024 @tomwriting.bsky.social . ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m delighted to share that I’m now represented by Georgia Tournay-Godfrey at
The Bright Agency! 🥳🎉🍾
I’m SO excited to join the Bright family and can’t wait to start working with Georgia.
#kidlit #picturebooks
The Bright Agency! 🥳🎉🍾
I’m SO excited to join the Bright family and can’t wait to start working with Georgia.
#kidlit #picturebooks
February 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
AGENT NEWS! Huge congratulations to the winner of Searchlight’s Best Picture Book Text 2024 @tomwriting.bsky.social . ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reposted by Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
So excited that my MG gothic horror 'Violeta's Adventures in Doll-Land' made the shortlist!
We are thrilled to announce the results of Best Novel Opening 2024. Congratulations to our final 10! ⭐️🥳
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
February 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
So excited that my MG gothic horror 'Violeta's Adventures in Doll-Land' made the shortlist!
Reposted by Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
My first post on BlueSky and what fantastic news I have to share! I've been awarded 2nd Place in the Searchlight Children's Picture Book Text 2024 awards. Thank you to @writingawards.bsky.social , to all the readers and to Lorna Hemingway for choosing Cyril.
February 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
My first post on BlueSky and what fantastic news I have to share! I've been awarded 2nd Place in the Searchlight Children's Picture Book Text 2024 awards. Thank you to @writingawards.bsky.social , to all the readers and to Lorna Hemingway for choosing Cyril.
Reposted by Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
I’m thrilled to win @writingawards.bsky.social’s Best Picture Book Text 2024!
Huge thanks to Kim Donovan for organising, Lorna Hemingway for judging, and all the amazing readers for this competition. Congratulations to all the other entrants for putting their fantastic stories out there! 🙌🏻
Huge thanks to Kim Donovan for organising, Lorna Hemingway for judging, and all the amazing readers for this competition. Congratulations to all the other entrants for putting their fantastic stories out there! 🙌🏻
February 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I’m thrilled to win @writingawards.bsky.social’s Best Picture Book Text 2024!
Huge thanks to Kim Donovan for organising, Lorna Hemingway for judging, and all the amazing readers for this competition. Congratulations to all the other entrants for putting their fantastic stories out there! 🙌🏻
Huge thanks to Kim Donovan for organising, Lorna Hemingway for judging, and all the amazing readers for this competition. Congratulations to all the other entrants for putting their fantastic stories out there! 🙌🏻
Reposted by Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
Genuinely made up with this. Congratulations to all the other entrants, thanks to the readers, judges and Kim and the team for organising.
What a day!
What a day!
Huge congratulations to the winner of Best Novel Opening 2024 - @gavin-crippin.bsky.social . ⭐️🥳🍾 Our literary agent judge Rachel Petty of The Blair Partnership admired Gavin’s ‘sparkly dialogue and authentic-feeling voice’. Our readers loved the voice, too!
February 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Genuinely made up with this. Congratulations to all the other entrants, thanks to the readers, judges and Kim and the team for organising.
What a day!
What a day!
Tom Lancaster has been crowned the winner of Best Picture Book Text 2024. Our judge Lorna Hemingway of Bell Lomax Moreton said Bamboo Hullabaloo was ‘a joy to read aloud due to its excellent rhyme and fast paced nature’. Many congratulations, Tom! 🥳⭐️🍾
February 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Tom Lancaster has been crowned the winner of Best Picture Book Text 2024. Our judge Lorna Hemingway of Bell Lomax Moreton said Bamboo Hullabaloo was ‘a joy to read aloud due to its excellent rhyme and fast paced nature’. Many congratulations, Tom! 🥳⭐️🍾
Huge congratulations to the winner of Best Novel Opening 2024 - @gavin-crippin.bsky.social . ⭐️🥳🍾 Our literary agent judge Rachel Petty of The Blair Partnership admired Gavin’s ‘sparkly dialogue and authentic-feeling voice’. Our readers loved the voice, too!
February 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Huge congratulations to the winner of Best Novel Opening 2024 - @gavin-crippin.bsky.social . ⭐️🥳🍾 Our literary agent judge Rachel Petty of The Blair Partnership admired Gavin’s ‘sparkly dialogue and authentic-feeling voice’. Our readers loved the voice, too!
Reposted by Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
Congratulations to all the fabulous writers who entered this competition- the standard was so high! And massive congrats to Gavin! 💐
We are thrilled to announce the results of Best Novel Opening 2024. Congratulations to our final 10! ⭐️🥳
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
February 7, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Congratulations to all the fabulous writers who entered this competition- the standard was so high! And massive congrats to Gavin! 💐
Announcing the long-awaited results of Best Picture Book Text 2024. Huge congratulations to our final 10!
Thank you to all the writers who entered this competition. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to read your stories.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-childre...
Thank you to all the writers who entered this competition. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to read your stories.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-childre...
February 7, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Announcing the long-awaited results of Best Picture Book Text 2024. Huge congratulations to our final 10!
Thank you to all the writers who entered this competition. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to read your stories.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-childre...
Thank you to all the writers who entered this competition. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to read your stories.
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-childre...
We are thrilled to announce the results of Best Novel Opening 2024. Congratulations to our final 10! ⭐️🥳
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
February 7, 2025 at 9:48 AM
We are thrilled to announce the results of Best Novel Opening 2024. Congratulations to our final 10! ⭐️🥳
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
A huge thank you to all our entrants for being brave and allowing us to read your work. It has been a privilege and a pleasure. ❤️
www.searchlightawards.co.uk/best-novel-o...
Longlistees, we will be emailing you the results of Best Novel Opening and Best Picture Book Text 2024 tomorrow - ahead of the official announcement on Friday.
You are all superstars and, whether you are shortlisted or not, we believe in your stories. Best of luck!
You are all superstars and, whether you are shortlisted or not, we believe in your stories. Best of luck!
February 4, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Longlistees, we will be emailing you the results of Best Novel Opening and Best Picture Book Text 2024 tomorrow - ahead of the official announcement on Friday.
You are all superstars and, whether you are shortlisted or not, we believe in your stories. Best of luck!
You are all superstars and, whether you are shortlisted or not, we believe in your stories. Best of luck!
Thrilled for our listee @orsorrel.bsky.social ! What fantastic news! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Big up to the four @bathspauni.bsky.social MA grads on the Branford Boase longlist, especially my UoB PhD student Ash Bond and @orsorrel.bsky.social whose hilarious Apocalypse Cow will always hold a very special place in my heart.
January 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Thrilled for our listee @orsorrel.bsky.social ! What fantastic news! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In 2023 we ran an illustrated picture book competition and encouraged writers and illustrators to team up for it. Jax King and @samanthaleduc.bsky.social were one of our amazing teams.
This is their shortlisted book!
Incredibly proud. ❤️
This is their shortlisted book!
Incredibly proud. ❤️
🎉 COVER REVEAL 🎉
When Cyril accidentally sits in something brown and smelly, he searches for a way to clean his messy fur. Will Cyril get out of this mess? 🌳✨
Stinky Cyril by Jax King & Samantha LeDuc is out April 10th. Pre-order 👉 https://amzn.to/402A0It
When Cyril accidentally sits in something brown and smelly, he searches for a way to clean his messy fur. Will Cyril get out of this mess? 🌳✨
Stinky Cyril by Jax King & Samantha LeDuc is out April 10th. Pre-order 👉 https://amzn.to/402A0It
January 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
In 2023 we ran an illustrated picture book competition and encouraged writers and illustrators to team up for it. Jax King and @samanthaleduc.bsky.social were one of our amazing teams.
This is their shortlisted book!
Incredibly proud. ❤️
This is their shortlisted book!
Incredibly proud. ❤️
Couldn’t be happier! The winner of our Best Chapter Book 2024 competition - Sophie Clarke with Gracie, Dave and The God of Dogs - has accepted representation from Lucy Irvine of PFD. Such brilliant news! 🥳
December 18, 2024 at 8:15 AM
Couldn’t be happier! The winner of our Best Chapter Book 2024 competition - Sophie Clarke with Gracie, Dave and The God of Dogs - has accepted representation from Lucy Irvine of PFD. Such brilliant news! 🥳
@luwrites.bsky.social reads for Searchlight Awards and is absolutely brilliant. Her own writing career took off when she won the Mslexia competition back in 2012. She’s such an amazing writer. Can’t wait to read her new book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Book news** Sea Spinners, my herstory prequel to Jason & the Argonauts, is out 15 December. If you'd like it in time for last minute Christmas presents, Amazon have it already... otherwise available via publisher & indie bookshops after Christmas.
December 15, 2024 at 9:33 AM
@luwrites.bsky.social reads for Searchlight Awards and is absolutely brilliant. Her own writing career took off when she won the Mslexia competition back in 2012. She’s such an amazing writer. Can’t wait to read her new book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s the moment our entrants have been waiting for - the longlist announcement! 🥳🍾 Congratulations to everyone who entered. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to read your writing.
See our website for details. www.searchlightawards.co.uk/news/
See our website for details. www.searchlightawards.co.uk/news/
December 12, 2024 at 11:04 AM
It’s the moment our entrants have been waiting for - the longlist announcement! 🥳🍾 Congratulations to everyone who entered. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to read your writing.
See our website for details. www.searchlightawards.co.uk/news/
See our website for details. www.searchlightawards.co.uk/news/
Reposted by Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
This was a top entry in @writingawards.bsky.social & I absolutely LOVED it - so delighted to find out it's going to be published! Congratulations, @clairelewiswrites.bsky.social 🌟
Very excited and delighted to announce that my debut illustrated picture book 'The Go Away Rain Dance' will be published by the lovely HB Publishing in Feb 2026! 🐾🌧️💦
December 9, 2024 at 12:13 PM
This was a top entry in @writingawards.bsky.social & I absolutely LOVED it - so delighted to find out it's going to be published! Congratulations, @clairelewiswrites.bsky.social 🌟