2009 Luke Bitmead Bursary for new writers
Magazine
The 2009 Luke Bitmead Bursary for new writers
Closing date Saturday 31 August 2009
No entry fee
Open to all unpublished writers over 16 writing in English for an adult novel
Entries for the second Luke Bitmead Writer's Bursary to support fledgling novel writers opened on 13th May 2009. The bursary will be awarded in the week of 27 October 2009. The winner will receive a cash award of £2,500 from the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund and a publishing contract from Legend Press.
The 2008 winner of the bursary, Andrew Blackman, published his debut novel On the Holloway Road with Legend Press in February this year.
Luke was just 34 when he died and was considered by all that had read his work as one of the UK’s most talented up-and-coming writers. His first published novel was the cult comedy White Summer – published by Legend Press in May 2006, just five months before he died.
Legend Press and Luke’s family are keen to ensure that his memory helps other writers. Royalties from the sale of both of his novels, and any other future novels of Luke’s which might be published, will support the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund and future bursaries
Luke’s mother, Elaine Hanson, who set up the memorial fund and bursary scheme along with her daughter and her husband said: 'The life of a writer can be both lonely and a financial struggle. This bursary honours Luke’s idea to assist fledgling writers through what can be a bleak time before a novel is flying off the shelves and generating sufficient royalties to provide a proper income. Legend Press has been a huge support since Luke’s death and it is fantastic that the winner will not only get a lump sum of £2,500 but also the ‘Holy Grail’ of a publishing deal.'