how are the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction and Award for New Writers judged?

Every June, a panel of five women, all passionate readers and at the top of their respective professions, choose the winner of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. Meanwhile, three women with a proven interest in new fiction, who work at a senior level in the book world, select the winner of the Orange Broadband Award for New Writers.

The whole process starts early autumn of the previous year. Booktrust – the independent national charity that encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading – invites UK publishers to submit eligible books, while Honorary Director (Kate Mosse) and Project Director (Harriet Hastings) approach potential judges.

Judges are appointed by the end of the year and plunge immediately into reading their allotted books.

The Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction panel meets four times - once for a meet-and-greet session and then to decide the longlist, the shortlist and, shortly before the Award Ceremony, the winner. The Orange Award for New Writers judges have three meetings (there‘s no longlist).

Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction judges are told that the Prize aims to 'promote accessibility, originality and excellence' in writing by women, while the Orange Broadband Award for New Writers judges focus on emerging talent and the evidence of future potential.

Both panels are advised to forget about reviews, publicity spends, previous reputations and choose only books that move them, that make them think and, more than anything, that they enjoy!