Winner revealed for New Children’s Author Prize

12 May 2015-National Literacy Trust

A feline tale of lost friends, a sixth sense and a battle to save a recycling centre from some villainous cats has won the first ever New Children’s Author Prize, our competition with Bloomsbury Children’s Books. The winning author is Emma Cox who was selected from the six strong shortlist.

Her book, Malkin Moonlight, tells the story of a cat who arrives one night at a recycling centre. He has lost the cat he loves – his friend Roux – and is looking for her, navigated by the sixth sense that all cats possess. Malkin befriends the cats of the recycling centre and is soon involved in a battle with a rival band of cats who live over the wall in a stinking wasteland.

Emma beat over 400 budding authors who submitted stories aimed at 8-12 year olds for the chance to win a publishing contract with Bloomsbury. Her book was chosen by an expert  judging panel consisting of bestselling author Katherine Rundell, children’s book expert Nicolette Jones, Rebecca McNally, Children’s Publishing Director at Bloomsbury and our Director Jonathan Douglas.

Emma Cox said of her win:

“I am extremely lucky and honoured to have won the New Children’s Author Prize 2015. I am grateful to the National Literacy Trust for this life-changing opportunity. I’m so excited that Malkin Moonlight will be published by Bloomsbury next year. To be joining Bloomsbury’s list of incredible children’s authors, and to be working with such talented editors, is certainly a dream come true. This has been an amazing experience thus far and I am looking forward to so many things, but the highlight will be when I see a child sitting in a school or a library and quietly reading my own book. That, for me, will be a moment of pure magic.”

Emma is Head of English at a school in Devon and also works as a lecturer at Exeter University. She has been writing since the age of four and spends weekends and school holidays creating new stories. Emma’s book will be published by Bloomsbury in summer 2016.

The New Children’s Author Prize raised over £20,000 for us to continue our vital work of improving literacy across the country, particularly in disadvantaged communities.