Opine Books
Based in Greenwich, London, the agency specialises in children’s content but will work across the publishing market, with a focus on books, brands and creators that "bring positive energy to the world".
Eleanor Drage won the children’s/YA category with Tastes Like Teen Spirit, a dark romantic fantasy that explores the importance of meaningful connections and changing attitudes to bisexuality.
Upcoming highlights over the next year include author-illustrator Hannah Peck’s new middle-grade title, The River Thief, graphic novel Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai Nguyen and Feather and Claw by Marta Palazzesi, translated from the Italian by Denise Muir.
In the fundraiser description, Sofia Akel, founder of Free Books Campaign, said: "The funds we raised back in 2020 have carried us throughout the years.
The organisation will also be running special digital campaigns, including alumni spotlights and #FromTheArchives posts, using material curated by Maria Vassilopoulos, the SYP archivist.
Jewell’s None Of This Is True (Century) is up for Book of the Year (UK & Ireland) alongside Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love (Bloomsbury YA), Caleb Azumah Nelson’s Small Worlds (Penguin) and Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incident (Little, Brown).
Slight said: “It has been a wonderful 10 years at Scribe UK and I am immensely proud of all we have achieved, but the time is right for me to take on new challenges and I cannot think of anywhere better to do this than Chatto & Windus.
They state: "Amidst intense discussion around arts funding and challenges to our continued flourishing, we have joined forces to share this message on our mission and purpose, and a call for increased support .
Montagne reiterated his opposition to creating a quasi-salaried status for authors and warned against reducing the reach of the Culture Pass for adolescents, doubling VAT on books, rewriting history and restricting freedom to publish.
The winner of the prize will be announced at an event featuring the shortlisted authors in conversation with the chair of the judges, biographer and cartographer Peter Parker, in London on 25th July 2024.
The political writing panel was chaired by the historian Peter Frankopan, who was joined by writer and director of the think tank British Future Sunder Katwala, journalist Christina Lamb, literary critic Lola Seaton, and Rohan Silva, co-founder of Second Home and former senior policy advisor in 10 Downing Street.
He added: “Partnering with a major publisher provides us with extensive production and distribution capabilities and valuable relationships with booksellers and retailers, while also enhancing our audiobook offerings.”