Gladstone’s Library has announced the winners of its Writer-in-Residence scheme.
Eight of the world’s most exciting writers will spend up to a month at Britain’s only residential and Prime Ministerial library, as part of Gladstone’s Library’s increasingly competitive Writer-in-Residence scheme.
The winners were officially announced at the National Liberal Club, London on November 19 in front of a crowd of former Writers in Residence, agents and publishers.
Jessie Burton, Sarah Butler, Pascale Petit, Wendy Cope and Lachlan Mackinnon, Salley Vickers, Robyn Cadwallader and Rachel Holmes have all been appointed for the programme’s fourth year, and will spend their residency in Hawarden , North Wales.
Over the course of 2015 each Writer in Residence will blog about their stay, run creative writing workshops, and host an ‘Evening With’ event. They each receive full board and lodging, travel expenses, and an honorarium of £100 per week.
This year’s judges were author Sarah Waters (The Paying Guests), poet and former Writer in Residence Katrina Naomi (The Girl with the Cactus Handshake), poet and author Vanessa Gebbie (The Coward’s Tale), and Freddie Baveystock.
To enter, writers submitted a one-page CV/biography, a copy of their latest book, a statement on (re)defining ‘liberal values’ and a description of the writing that they plan to do at the Library.
“For the fourth year running we have another wonderful selection of authors and poets residing with us here at Gladstone’s Library,” said Warden Peter Francis.
“We were so impressed by the quality and range of the writers that we appointed eight this year, meaning that for seven months of 2015 there will be a writer residing at the Library.
“Jessie Burton and Sarah Butler will be the first to join us in February 2015”, he added.
“For the first time in its four year history the Writers in Residence programme has secured a sponsor. A generous individual, who was aware of the struggle that writers have to find time, space and money to write, thought that supporting our scheme was a good practical way of helping. All of us at the Library, and no doubt our future writers, are greatly in her debt and are truly appreciative of her support.”
Writers in Residence 2015 (in order of appearance)
Jessie Burton: Jessie Burton’s debut novel The Miniaturist was published in July 2014 and spent over two months in The Sunday Times Top Ten. Jessie will be at Gladstone’s Library for our micro literary festival Hearth from February 6-8. Her event Patchwork Pages – Exploring The Process from Manuscript to Finished Book will be held on Sunday, February 8 at 1.30pm.
Sarah Butler: Sarah Butler writes novels and short fiction and is fascinated by the relationship between writing and place. Her novel, Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love was published in January 2013. Sarah will be at Gladstone’s Library for our micro literary festival Hearth from February 6-8. Her event How Far Can You Go? Will be held on Saturday, February 7 at 3.15pm.
Pascale Petit: Poet Pascale Petit’s Fauverie is shortlisted for the 2014 T S Eliot Prize. Five poems from the book also won the Manchester Poetry Prize. Pascale will be holding two events Fauverie an ‘Evening With’ on April 7 and a workshop entitled The Wild of Poems on April 25.
Wendy Cope: Poet Wendy Cope OBE has been a freelance writer since 1986 when her first book of poems, Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis, was published. Wendy will be holding two events, the first a joint poetry reading with Lachlan Mackinnon on July 23. Followed by a workshop on July 26.
Lachlan Mackinnon: Lachlan Mackinnon was shortlisted for the Forward Prize in 2010 for his poetry collection Small Hours, and won the Cholmondeley Award in 2011. Lachlan will be holding a joint poetry reading with Wendy Cope on July 23.
Salley Vickers: Salley Vickers is a full time as a writer who doesn’t plan her books. Her phenomenally successful novels (The Cleaner of Chartres) have garnered critical praise and popular reviews. An Evening With Salley Vickers will be held on August 11.
Robyn Cadwallader: Robyn Cadwallader’s first novel, The Anchoress, will be published in early 2015. Robyn will be holding an event during our festival Gladfest (September 4-6) and a workshop,Writing the Body on September 27.
Rachel Holmes: Rachel Holmes’ latest book Eleanor Marx: A Life was published in May 2014. Rachel will be holding two events the first a Writer at Liberty on November 10 followed by her workshop entitled Style, Research and Craft on November 29.