SilverWood Books and Kobo Writing Life are delighted to extend their Open Day Competition prize to include a paperback edition, printed by Berforts Information Press.

The Winner of The Open Day Competition receives a copy-edit, professional cover design, and publication as an ebook and short-run paperback. The Runner Up prize receives a Kobo Aura H2O. The closing date is 31 December, and the SilverWood team are looking forward to reviewing the entries in detail and choosing a shortlist for the judging panel.

SilverWood Books has worked with Berforts Information Press for several years, producing short run and lithographic paperback and hardback editions. Publishing Director Helen Hart says, “We enjoy an excellent working relationship with the Berforts team. To be able to offer an ebook publishing package in association with KWL and now a print edition is excellent news for writers wanting to offer a high quality reading experience to their audience.”

Dale Burgess, Sales & Marketing Manager at Berforts, says: “After working with SilverWood Books since 2010 on a range of print projects, we’re delighted to be supporting the writing competition with them.”
 
 

The Judges

Shayna Krishnasamy is a writer of literary and young adult fiction, and a Kobo bestseller. She’s currently participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), trying to complete 50,000 words of a new novel in just 30 days. Shayna says, “I love reading the work of new writers. I’m really looking forward to discovering a new and original voice.”

Sanjida O’Connell is a television broadcaster and the author of 8 books including ‘Sugar: The Grass that Changed the World’. She says, “I’m looking forward to being immersed in someone else’s imaginary world, being absorbed by their use of words and transported by their story.”

Helen Hart has been a published author since 1999. One of her Young Adult novels, written as Maya Snow, was shortlisted for the Solihull Children’s Book Award 2010. She says, “I have a feeling the standard is going to be high in this competition, and that it’s going to be a challenge to choose a winner!”
 
 

Judges Top Tips for Writers

“The best advice I’ve ever received as a writer is to ignore the audience. If you think too much about how readers will react to your work it can cripple the writing process.”
 Shayna Krishnasamy

“Rather than waiting for inspiration to strike, just write! Set aside time, a few times a week if you can, dedicated to writing, researching or editing your manuscript. The rest of the time, carry a notebook with you to jot down any ideas, quirky scenes you observe or conversations you overhear.”
 Sanjida O’Connell

“Thrill your reader from the very first page, and make sure you give them a reason to be hooked…and to read on.”
 Helen Hart

Click here to find out more about the competition