Prize - Paul Torday

This Year's Judges

The 2024 prize judges were. Anni Domingo, Gaby Koppel and Trevor Wood.

Anni Domingo

Anni Domingo is a British actress, director, and writer who has worked in theatre, television, radio, and films.... Anni Domingo is a British actress, director, and writer who has worked in theatre, television, radio, and films. Her book Breaking the Maafa Chain was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize, and she was joint winner of the Myriad Editions First Draft Competition with Rutendo Chabikwa. Anni is Chair of Theatre Peckham and a Trustee of Rose Bruford College and Sheffield Theatres.More

Gaby Koppel

Gaby is a journalist, film-maker and producer with credits across a broad range of factual television including Crimewatch UK and Watchdog. ... Gaby is a journalist, film-maker and producer with credits across a broad range of factual television including Crimewatch UK and Watchdog. In 2001 she staged the first ever national event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. Gaby's debut novel Reparation was long-listed for the Bath Novel Award and shortlisted for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize. More

Trevor Wood

Trevor Wood is an author, playwright and journalist based in Newcastle. His first novel, The Man on the Street, was shortlisted for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize.... Trevor Wood is an author, playwright and journalist based in Newcastle. His first novel, The Man on the Street, was shortlisted for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize. Other books include One Way Street, Dead End Street and You Can Run. More

This Year's Shortlist

The shortlist for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize 2024 is:

Fran Hill for Cuckoo in the Nest (Legend Press)
Justine Gilbert for Daisy Chain (Claret Press)
Jacqueline Crooks for Fire Rush (Jonathan Cape, Vintage, Penguin Random House)
Michelene Wandor for Orfeo’s Last Act (Greenwich Exchange)
Hilary Taylor for Sea Defences (Publisher Eye Books, imprint Lightning Books)

Judge Gaby Koppel said:

I found the entries as a whole bursting with creative energy, wisdom and often humour. Among them I found bold stylistic innovation, the reflection of different cultures and sensitivities and familiar events seen from fresh perspectives. Some of the authors had undertaken meticulous research in order to explore particular moments in time and place. All of them challenge the cliches about ageing by showing that mature minds can master the art of writing fiction, but also go beyond that, entering into fresh territory to produce original work, crackling with imagination and ideas.

The 2024 Prize winner: Jacqueline Crooks

Jacqueline Crooks grew up in 70s and 80s Southall, part of London’s migrant community carving out a space through music, culture and politics. Immersed in the gang underworld as a young woman, she later discovered the power of writing and music to help her look outwards and engage differently with the world – a power that has driven her ever since, from her work with charities to her short stories, which have been nominated for The Women’s Prize for Fiction, The Jhalak Prize, Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.

Paul Torday Prize judge Trevor Wood said:

‘An exemplary debut novel that somehow manages to combine politics, romance, thrills, music and a coming-of-age story into one entirely cohesive whole. It takes you from London to Jamaica, via Bristol, each setting beautifully drawn, and captures the sheer exhilaration of both dub reggae and the dance scene it inspired. A musical, lyrical and enchanting treat.’

THE PAUL TORDAY MEMORIAL PRIZE RUNNER-UP: FRAN HILL FOR CUCKOO IN THE NEST (LEGEND PRESS)

Fran Hill is a 62-year-old retired English teacher from Warwickshire who published a memoir about the teaching life in 2020. Cuckoo in the Nest is her first full-length work of fiction and is inspired by her own experience of being in care in the 1970s.

THE PAUL TORDAY PRIZE CONCLUDED ON 20TH JUNE 2024

AND IS NOW CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

A note from Piers Torday about the prize

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