The literary world is celebrating the inaugural winner of the Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction, a new award designed to champion emerging writers. Anna Dempsey has been awarded £7,500 for her unpublished novel, This Is About an Alligator and Nothing Else, a coming-of-age story steeped in the environmental concerns of her native Florida. The prize, established in memory of the late Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel, aims to provide crucial support to unpublished and un-agented writers across the UK and Ireland, offering not just financial assistance but also a pathway to professional development.
The award underscores Mantel’s long-held commitment to fostering new voices in fiction. Her agent, Bill Hamilton, has spoken extensively about her dedication to supporting writers at the beginning of their careers. This prize, backed by AM Heath, Mantel’s agency and John Murray publishing, is a direct extension of that ethos. The initiative received over 2,300 submissions, a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the need for opportunities like this within the publishing industry.
A Story Rooted in Loss and Environmental Concern
Dempsey, a Florida native now living in London, crafted This Is About an Alligator and Nothing Else in the wake of personal tragedy. She began writing shortly after the sudden death of her father in 2020, a loss that deeply informs the novel’s themes. The story unfolds on the edge of the Florida Everglades, where a small town grapples with a water contamination crisis linked to corporate negligence. The narrative centers on a young protagonist who, while mourning her father’s passing – officially attributed to a heart attack – increasingly suspects foul play and a connection to the environmental damage plaguing her community.
The novel’s setting is particularly resonant. The Everglades, a unique and fragile ecosystem, has faced decades of environmental challenges, including water pollution and habitat loss. Dempsey’s story taps into these real-world concerns, offering a fictional exploration of their impact on individuals and communities. The choice of an alligator as a central, albeit symbolic, element speaks to the wildness and vulnerability of the region.
Recognizing Emerging Talent: Ekong Named Runner-Up
Alongside Dempsey’s win, Uduak-Abasi Ekong was named the runner-up, receiving £2,500 for her novel, A Kind of Resurrection. Ekong, a Manchester-based writer originally from Nigeria, presents a work of psychological horror that draws heavily on West African folklore. The novel intertwines supernatural elements with the complexities of emotional trauma, promising a unique and unsettling reading experience.
Both Dempsey and Ekong will receive invaluable mentorship from an agent at AM Heath and an editor at John Murray, providing them with expert guidance as they navigate the publishing process. Dempsey has also been awarded a place on a residential writing course at the Arvon Foundation, while Ekong will attend an Arvon masterclass, further honing their craft.
The Judges’ Perspective and Mantel’s Legacy
The judging panel for the inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize was chaired by bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell, known for her critically acclaimed novels like Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait. She was joined by Nicholas Pearson, Mantel’s longtime editor; Ben Miles, the actor who portrayed Thomas Cromwell in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptations of Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy; and novelists Chetna Maroo and Chigozie Obioma.
According to Hamilton, the sheer breadth of submissions made the selection process challenging but rewarding. “The closer we got to a manageable number to recommend to the judges, the bigger the contrasts in the imagination and style and voices of the writers,” he said. “Settings from all around the world, everything from satire to the supernatural, from contemporary to ancient myth.”
Pearson emphasized Mantel’s dedication to supporting emerging writers throughout her career. “Throughout her career, Hilary Mantel cared deeply for novelists making their first steps, and I feel sure she would have wanted to support these two exceptional writers,” he stated. The prize serves as a lasting tribute to her generosity and commitment to the future of fiction.
Hilary Mantel, who died in September 2022, was celebrated for her historical novels, particularly the Wolf Hall trilogy, which reimagined the life of Thomas Cromwell during the reign of Henry VIII. She won the Booker Prize twice, for Wolf Hall in 2009 and Bring Up the Bodies in 2012. Britannica provides a comprehensive overview of her life and work.
The Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction will be awarded biennially, continuing to offer a vital platform for unpublished writers in the UK and Ireland. Submissions for the next prize will be accepted in 2027, offering another opportunity for aspiring authors to gain recognition and support. The prize is open to writers who submit an extract of 15,000 words.
As Dempsey and Ekong embark on the next stages of their writing careers, the inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of nurturing new talent and preserving the legacy of a literary giant. The prize’s continued success will undoubtedly shape the landscape of British and Irish fiction for years to come.
What do you reckon about the importance of prizes like this for emerging writers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
