New-look Lakeland Book of the Year expands for 2023

The prestigious Lakeland Book of the Year competition has revamped for 2023, with a brand new category and a new look judging panel overseeing this annual celebration of amateur and professional writing talent.

Entries are now open for the 39^th instalment of Lakeland Book of the Year, which can include any book published in 2022 set in or featuring Cumbria.

This year’s competition includes the introduction of new judge Michael McGregor, who is Director of Wordsworth Grasmere. Alongside broadcaster Fiona Armstrong, who takes up head judging duties following the retirement of competition founder Hunter Davies OBE, will be former Cumbria Tourism President, Eric Robson and Rachel Laverack from Cumbria County Council who joins as guest judge.

This year’s awards also see the inclusion of a new separately judged category ‘The CGP Books Children’s Poem of the Year’. Open exclusively to school children between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 5 across Cumbria, it is aimed at inspiring the next generation of Cumbrian authors.

The awards will be presented at a charity event at The Inn on the Lake, Glenridding on Tuesday 11 July 2023. Attended by authors, publishers and book lovers from throughout Cumbria and beyond, the charity partner for this year’s event is PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide in the UK). Joining us on the day will be Andy Airey from 3 Dads Walking, along with a representative from PAPYRUS.

Finalists will be whittled down across all seven main categories*, with the overall winner receiving the ultimate accolade of Lakeland Book of the Year 2023.

New judge Michael McGregor says, “Like the Lakeland Book of the Year Awards, Wordsworth Grasmere is dedicated to celebrating great literature, past and present. So when I was offered the opportunity to be a judge for the 2023 Awards I jumped at the chance and I’m looking forward to seeing the submissions and enjoying an array of homegrown writing talent!”

Meanwhile, Michael Southorn, PR Manager at CGP Books adds, “We’re pleased to be sponsoring the new children’s category. As an educational publisher based in Cumbria, we understand the importance of recognising authors who write about the local area — especially those who help children develop a passion for reading and literature. We’re supporting the awards to help make sure these writers continue to be celebrated.”

*The full list of categories is:

• The Latitude Press Prize for Illustration & Presentation
• The Wordsworth Grasmere Prize for Literature & Poetry
• The Gilpin Hotel Prize for Fiction
• The Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape & Tradition
• The Striding Edge Productions Eric Robson Prize for Guides & Places
• The Bookends Prize for People & Business
• The CGP Books Children’s Poem of the Year

The submission deadline for Lakeland Book of the Year 2023 is Tuesday 28 February.

Entry forms are easy to download at: www.lakelandbookoftheyear.co.uk Or for more information about the event, contact Ben Melling at Cumbria Tourism on 01539 822 222.