The Scottish publisher, Floris, will announce tomorrow (Monday) a new prize for writing for children, to be launched at this year's Edinburgh Book Festrival. The first Kelpies Prize will be awarded in August 2005. The winner will receive ?2000 and their book will be published in Floris Books' Contemporary Kelpies series of Scottish fiction for children aged 9 - 12.
Christian Macleam, Floris MD, says: "In recent years, we've seen Scottish fiction for adults become increasingly recognised and commercially successful. Scottish children deserve to be able to read the childhood equivalents of Christopher Mrookmyre, Ian Rankin, Louise Welsh and Irvine Welsh - that is, high-qulaity, contmeporary Scottish fiction across many genres. The Kelpies Prize will facilitate that."
The prize is open to authors who do not live in Scotland, but their work should be set wholly or mainly in contemporary Scotland, and be suitable for both boys and girls. The work should not have been previously published, although the author may have been. Manuscripts (40,000 - 60,000 words) must be submitted by Febraury 28th 2005. A shortlist will be announced the following July. A judging panel will be appointed annually.
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