Deborah-Rogers-Foundation-INVERTED

Milan Sehmbi and Wiggy Bob Snow successfully complete the DMIP 2023

 

Winning candidates Milan Sehmbi and Wiggy Bob Snow spent six weeks on placement with literary agencies and publishing companies to gain an insight into the world of publishing rights. Training was provided by Aitken Alexander Associates, David Higham Associates, ILA, Penguin Random House, Faber, Profile Books, PEW Literary, Greyhound Literary and Eccles Fisher Associates and the two interns had the experience of attending the Frankfurt Book Fair. They are both currently looking for work in the industry.

 

Milan commented: “The 6 weeks flew by, but I've learnt so much and I'm so excited to learn more! I’ll be forever grateful for such an amazing experience.”

 

Wiggy commented: “This internship has done more for me than you can imagine. On my own, without your endless support and generosity, I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to break into the publishing industry. You’ve opened a door that I thought might be locked, and for that, I will never thank you enough … I have never felt more comfortable or safe in a working environment before. I have felt welcome, respected and seen. It’s gone by so fast, and I’m sad that it's over, but also so excited to see where I go next.”

2023 DRF Writers Award Winner Announced

  • Judges Abdulrazak Gurnah, Claire Adam and Annalena McAfee announce Neil Rollison as the winner of the 2023 Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award for his work, The Dead Don’t Bleed.
  • Two runners up were congratulated: Michelle Alipao Chikaonda for The Dying Embers of Our Setting Sun and Alicia McAuley for The Caul.
  • Neil Rollinson receives £10,000, the two runners up £1,000 each
  • 864 entries were considered.
  • A shortlist of three was chosen from a longlist of nine.
  • Chair of the judges, Abdulrazak Gurnah announced the news at a ceremony at Faber, The Bindery, London on Thursday 9 November.

 

The judges for the 2023 Award were Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah (Chair), along with award-winning novelist, Claire Adam, and the renowned writer and journalist, Annalena McAfee.

‘The panel read through a longlist of nine pieces of writing. There was a great deal to admire in all of them and we congratulate all the submitted writers and their achievements. We arrived at our shortlist after intense and pleasurable discussion and unanimously chose The Dead Don't Bleed as the recipient of the Deborah Rogers Foundation Prize.’ - Abdulrazak Gurnah, chair of the Judges

News

Writers Award Winner Sharlene Teo to be published in April
We are delighted that the winner of the inaugural Writers Award, Sharlene Teo’s debut novel, Ponti, will be published by Picador in the UK in April 2018 and by Simon & Schuster in the US in September 2018. It is currently sold in seven other languages.
Writers Award shortlisted author Guy Stagg’s ‘The Crossway’ to be published in June
The Crossway is an account of Guy Stagg’s extraordinary pilgrimage from Canterbury to Jerusalem. It will be published by Picador on the 14th June 2018 and will be BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week from the 18th June 2018.
Sam Coates, winner of The DRF David Miller Bursary, reports on his time at four publishers
The winner of the inaugural DRF David Miller Bursary, Sam Coates, has reported on his time spent at four different publishing companies. The report is now available to read in this post.
Shortlist for the Writers Award to be announced on the 2nd May and the winner on 16th May
The shortlist for the 2018 DRF Writers Award will be announced on Wednesday 2nd May. The Award itself will be presented by Anne Enright on Wednesday 16th May at an event in London
DRF shortlisted book 'The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock' published.
We are delighted to announce the publication of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar this month by Harvill Secker.
Submissions to the Writers’ Award are now closed
At 6pm on Wednesday 13th December submissions to the DRF Writers’ Award closed. The winner will be announced in May 2018 and shortlisted writers will be contacted directly.
Only a week to go before the submissions close for the 2018 Writers’ Award
Submissions for the 2018 Writers’ Award close on 13th December.
Deborah Rogers Foundation Announces Second DRF Writers Award (2018)
Submissions open from 1 October until 13 December 2017. Man Booker winner, Anne Enright, to chair the judges. Ponti, winner of the inaugural award, already sold in 8 countries
The 2018 DRF Writers Award
Submissions for the 2018 Writers Award will open on 1st October 2017 and close on 13th December 2017.
Announcement of winner of the Deborah Rogers Foundation Bursary Award
The winner of the inaugural Deborah Rogers Foundation Bursary Award is Sam Coates, Senior Rights Executive of Vintage Books, PRH. The Bursary will henceforth be known as the DRF David Miller Bursary in memory of David Miller (1966-2016) who worked at RCW and was a founding member of the DRF Bursary.