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