NOVEL LONDON began as a monthly book reading event in London's bookshops and has worked with and promoted over 100 emerging and established writers since 2015. Since transitioning online, it is now a yearly literary competition and festival, which focuses on the novel. Newly published, unpublished and self-published novels are all welcome.
This year's Novel London Literary Festival took place in central London on Saturday 1st October 2022. It was generously supported by The Old Diorama Arts Centre at 201 Drummond Street, London, NW1 3FE
Novel London Literary Competition 2022 Winners
Novel London began as a monthly book reading event in London's bookshops and has worked with over 100 emerging and established writers since 2015. We transitioned online for the past two years but this year's festival and awards ceremony was supported by and took place in person and online, at The Old Diorama Arts Centre, London.
We are proud to present this year's winners of the Novel London Literary Competition.
Amanda Vlietstra
1st Prize
Amanda Vlietstra is a journalist who's written about everything from business to equestrianism to valves but has always dreamed of being an author.
Like many aspiring writers she has a drawer full of almost-finished novels. A former editor of supernatural magazine Chat It's Fate, she loves a good ghost story and as a child terrified both her younger siblings with a (made-up) story of a disembodied glowing eye that haunted the disused mill next door. She now lives near the Hellfire Caves in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which are haunted by murdered bride Suki - and this was the inspiration for Veil.
Amanda has two children, Sam and Savannah, two dogs, Lola and Spotty, and two cats, Missy and Tilly.
Mikela Bond
2nd Prize
Mikela Bond lives in Suffolk with her husband and two children. She teaches English in a high school and writes in her spare time.
This summer, Mikela’s short story Port & Lemon won the Felixstowe Literary Festival short story competition and will be published in Suffolk magazine shortly.
She studied English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia and regularly workshops her writing with the Norwich based Unthank School of Writing.
The Hollow Hours is her second novel.
Mark Thompson
3rd Prize
Raised in Stockton-on-Tees, England, Mark Thompson spent many years living in London before moving to Andalucia in southern Spain. He has travelled extensively throughout the United States, Europe and far afield over many years, harvesting material for writing both literature and songs. When time allows he plays guitar in a rock band, and now lives in York with his partner Liz.
A life-long member of Amnesty International, Mark supports campaigns for freedom of speech, and journalistic freedoms.
Eternal City is avilable at https://amzn.to/3UQFz9k
NOVEL LONDON LITERARY FESTIVAL
Supported by The Old Diorama Arts Centre, London
NLLF Session 1:
Creative Writing Workshop
Diane Chandler from Creative Writing Workshop London and Blackbird Books held a 90 minute workshop, which included introductions to character, dialogue, plot and using the senses.
NLLF Session 2:
Networking with Novel London
New and established witers came to this unique lunch time networking event in one of the studios at The Old Diorma Arts Centre.
NLLF Session 3:
Moving Kindly and Boldly Through Writing Blocks
Melissa Addey held a workshop on moving kindly and boldly through writing blocks. It included ways on how to feel free to write, as well as making time to write and ways to keep going when stuck.
NLLF Session 4:
Novel London Readings & Awards Ceremony
Judged by Yvonne Battle-Felton and Sarah Shaffi, this year's Novel London Literary Competition was open to international entries. The hybrid festival culminated in readings from the shortlisted writers and the award being presented to the winner.
Eternal City By Mark Thompson
Of Ships and Sealing Wax By Suzanne Shaw
The Apogee of Light By Jeff Richards
The Body on the Hill By Amy Prendergast
The Hollow Hours By Mikela Bond
Veil By Amanda Vilestra
Novel London Summer School - 2022
Throughout July we held in-person and online writers circles for writers to come and share their opening chapter or synopsis in a safe environment to get peer-to-peer feedback from fellow novelists. The in person events sessions were held every fortnight this summer at Old Diorama Arts Centre in central London.
Supported by Old Diorama Arts Centre
This year, Novel London is delighted to be supported by Old Diorama Arts Centre - a creation centre: a shared home for the live arts, creative industries and local community to make, explore and meet.
Since the 1970s, ODAC has supported London’s creative ecology. Now housed in a purpose-built complex at the Regent's Place campus, our air-conditioned studios and offices are home to a busy schedule of rehearsals, workshops, readings, castings, film and photo shoots, and events.
ODAC is a lively hub of performing arts development, where West End rehearsals and big-name castings nestle alongside new work by emerging artists and local groups - and everything in between. Get in touch to join their community.
Novel London began as a monthly book reading event in London's bookshops and has worked with over 100 emerging and established writers since 2015.
We transitioned online for the past two years but this year's festival and awards ceremony is supported by and will take place in person and online at The Old Diorama Arts Centre, London.
1st Prize
Novel London Trophy+ £500+ Pitch assessment from Dan Holloway
2nd Prize
£300
+ Lunch with a Literary Agent, Elise Dillsworth
3rd Prize
£100+ Creative Writing Workshops London Voucher
Highly commended
