The Alice Darlington
Novel Award
What began as the Owned Voices award, a prize for underrepresented authors offering guidance, support and mentorship for their work, has evolved and become The Alice Darlington Novel Award.
The Alice Darlington Novel Award is for underrepresented writers of fiction, providing the opportunity to win a cash prize and to be a part of 10 shortlisted applicants who will gain access to an industry-led course demystifying the publishing industry for authors.
Each submission will be read by an experienced team of publishing professionals, from editors to agents, ensuring that your manuscript will be in the hands of those who can truly make a difference to your writing career.
Submissions open on 23rd October 2026 and will close by 12th February 2027.
The Shortlist will be announced in late March, with the winners announced in mid-May.
For more information on how to apply, head to the application page.
Want to find out more? Head to the FAQ page.
The Judges
Hannah Todd
Hannah is a literary agent representing writers of adult commercial fiction. She previously worked at the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, before joining Janklow & Nesbit in January 2025. Before she was an agent, Hannah worked as an editor in both independent and 'Big 5' publishers, including Avon, Head of Zeus and Bookouture.
Literary Agent at Janklow & NesbitI am so excited to be a Judge for the Alice Darlington Novel Award! Everyone deserves to see themselves in the books they read, and especially in books with feelings of joy and adventure. As such, I am always on the lookout for commercial fiction that centres writers or characters from underrepresented backgrounds, but especially those that show the full gamut of experiences, rather than just stories of hardship and struggle. Whether it's a page-turner of a crime novel or a sweep-me-off-my-feet romance novel, I am looking for a book that makes me feel things in a big way. It's the strength of emotion and voice that is what compels readers to thrust this into someone's hand and tell them that they have to read it, and that's what I'll be looking for. I would also love to see books with a very clear hook, that shows the central premise of your novel can be conveyed in just a sentence or two. So get working on distilling your premise into something that will instantly grab the judge's and your readers' attention!
What is Hannah looking for in submissions?
Sanah Ahmed
Sanah Ahmed is a Commissioning Editor at Orion Fiction, the commercial fiction imprint of Orion, where she works across romance, commercial fiction and book club fiction. She spearheaded the first Muslim Romance Festival in 2025, and is currently a mentor as part of the Grow Your Story programme run by Hachette in partnership with David Higham.
Commissioning Editor at Orion FictionI am thrilled to joining the Alice Darlington Award as a judge and I look to reading submissions from exciting new voices. As a mentor of the Grow Your Story programme, I know first-hand how important it is for us to be nurturing and supporting fresh and exciting voices, with stories that expand our awareness of the wider world beyond our own. I can’t wait to read the submissions and am really looking for that hook that will have me ready to dive straight in. Your pitch is as important as your manuscript, so make sure to spend time working on keeping it as clear and hooky as you can.
What is Sanah looking for in submissions?
Leodora Darlington
Founder of Darlington Literary, Author & Publishing DirectorLeodora Darlington is a writer from London with Ghanaian heritage. She received a distinction for her masters in creative writing from Brunel University of London, where she studied under authors like Benjamin Zephaniah and Will Self. A Bookseller Rising Star in 2021, Leodora also worked as Publishing Director at Hachette Book Group and has published a range of bestselling fiction. Her debut novel, The Exes, is a Good Morning America, Grazia Book Club and Book of the Month pick, and one of this year’s most talked-about releases.
I'm really excited to find compulsive storytelling, confident narrative voices, and characters you can't stop thinking about. From page-turning thrillers to literary reflections on grief, these three things are the hallmarks of all my favourite books and guarantee that a piece of writing will feel really special.
What is Leodora looking for in submissions?
Kayleigh McKnight
Literary Outreach Officer & Editorial Executive at Darlington LiteraryKayleigh leads the organisation of The Alice Darlington Novel Award and our outreach events, as well as providing editorial support for the team. Kayleigh joined the world of publishing through the Orion Virtual Internship, which led to a permanent role in the Orion Non-Fiction team, working as an editorial assistant for Seven Dials and Orion Spring. She also worked alongside the Orion Fiction team on a select number of acquisitions.
I have always been drawn in by any novel with a strong central character at its core, so I’m mostly looking for a compelling character (or characters) to fall in love with! But alongside this, I want to have gone on a journey by the end of any book I read. It could be just following the emotional growth of our central character, or it could be teaching me something about myself through the narrative. I’m a genre-chameleon so whether it’s a sweeping romance, or epic fantasy drama, as long as you have a clear hook, detailed characters and a story that has you desperate to find the conclusion, I’m invested!
What is Kayleigh looking for in submissions?
There will be two winners of the prize who will receive £500 in cash, as well as one-to-one mentorship with our industry professionals, Sanah Ahmed & Hannah Todd.
Our 10 shortlisted authors will receive access to our online workshop series, with leading industry professionals, demystifying various aspects of the publishing industry to give prospective authors the best chances to succeed with their novels.
The Prizes
Ready to make your application?
Head to our Frequently Asked Questions to find out the requirements and then Submit Your Work.