From winner to signed author! One week after winning the Bath Novel Award 2025, Parker Barrington reflects on why he ‘still can’t believe it happened’, describes how he wrote GUARDIAN ANGEL, his winning manuscript, and shares his exciting literary agent news. bathnovelaward.co.uk/interview-pa...

🚨 Just 3 spaces left! 🚨 Take your novel from draft to agent-ready submission in just 18 weeks with our Edit Your Novel course. Starts 1 October – now with 30% off (payment plans available). First come, first served! zurl.co/OfDEu

🎊 Huge congratulations to BCNA shortlistee William Yamaguchi Dobson 🎊

🎉We're delighted to share the winner and listees for the Bath Novel Award 2025. Our heartfelt thanks to Laura Williams for judging - and huge congratulations to winning author Parker Barrington and all listees. Full announcement at: bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-nov...

📚US Book Giveaway 📚 THE HOUSE OF FOUND OBJECTS by Jo Beckett-King is an exciting MG mystery filled with cryptic clues as two cousins search for their grandma’s missing portrait. To celebrate its publication in the US, we have a copy to giveaway. Closes 31 Aug👇 bathnovelaward.co.uk/book-giveawa...

🐚BOOK GIVEAWAY🐚 The Shell Keepers is an enchanting and sunny seaside adventure from Bath Children’s Novel Award winner Truly Johnston. To celebrate the publication with Chicken House Books we have a copy give away by prize draw. UK only, open until 31st August 👇 bathnovelaward.co.uk/prize-giveaw...

🎉Happy SCARLETT BUCKLING AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING PICTURES publication day to @marioambrosi.bsky.social - out today with @tinytreebooks.bsky.social! 12yo Scarlett Buckling loves a detective story, but when her beloved Gran goes missing in the night, she faces a real-life case like no other...

Huge thanks again to everyone who took part this year. We were truly blown away by the quality of work. Entrant notifications went out at 19:00 BST. If your entered and and yours hasn't arrived yet, drop us an email and we'll be glad to help.

We're away now to count the BNA2025 votes. Good luck to all for tomorrow's news!

💛 BNA2025 Golden Longlist Votes Hooked from the quirky and compelling opening chapter featuring murder, mysterious notes and an introverted mc I'm rooting for. Great voice. Golden YES 5/5

💛 BNA2025 Golden Longlist Votes I didn't want it to end! An incredibly unique story that you can quickly become obsessed with. Golden YES 4/5

💛 BNA2025 Golden Longlist Votes The observational and detail-oriented nature of the writing was fantastic. It established a sense of place, situation and time immediately and I really enjoyed the interview narrative style at the start. Golden YES. 3/5

💛 BNA2025 Golden Longlist Votes Exciting , witty and sharp. Made my heartbeat quicken and put a smile on my face! Golden YES 2/5

💛 BNA2025 Golden Longlist Votes Compelling dual narrative about brotherly bonds and an unravelling secret. Strong synopsis, assured storytelling and the inciting incident made me gasp. Golden YES 1/5

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Atmospheric and character-driven story of a detective back in their hometown to uncover the truth behind their brother's disappearance. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Invites you in from the first line and the story holds your attention throughout. The dialogue did a great job of showing characters' personalities and there's an air of mystery and intrigue around the plot. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Original, dynamic and suspenseful dective story about the murder of a tech CEO and his wife. I like the plot points of the story and the direction they are going in. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes The setting provides an excellent backdrop to the plot and the heart of this survival story,and the dialogue threads brilliantly into the character's stories. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Gripping and imaginative story with an interesting, fresh take on AI in the home. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Good opening and an interesting cast of characters. Interested to read how the return of the undead family member is managed. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes This page-turning Californian thriller had me from the opening post-it note. Heck YES.

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Enjoyable saga, with a promising weave of family secrets, silence and sacrifice. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Really liked the voice in this detective noir-ish story that lays out multiple threads including an enigmatic mc on a mission. I'm hooked. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Skilful police thriller with a spiky, broken main character to root for and clear, confident prose. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes A stunning and insightful story rooted in family. It's sensitive and emotional and the inner motivations of each character are clear from the beginning which is a nice branching point for the story to develop. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Relatable, beleagured main character elicited my sympathy and I'm intrigued by the promise of magic and witchcraft to come. A story with heart. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Love the strong voices of the women in this southern gothic. Compelling and visceral. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Intense and pacy Irish thriller with an Antipodean twist. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes A clear hook from the start and the reader can get straight to the action. It's good to see the technical and curious mindset come through with the language and connect to the dialogue well. Interested to see how character dynamics are explored, through twists and turns. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Completely hooked by this near-future dystopian tale and couldn’t finish the synopsis for fear of spoilers; I want to read it all! YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Drawn in by confident writing and the enigmatic, nomadic main character and want to see where this goes. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes I just loved the writing in this thoughtful, literary portrait of a marriage and was swept away by the setting and the intricacies of old friendships, more please. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Thrilling beach read that feels wonderfully familar yet kept surprising me. Fascinating world and extraordinary lifestyles. I'd love to see more. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Fresh voice and depiction of motherhood, sisterly love and teenage growth. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Out of work actor lands part as a body double for the injured lead in a Bronte dramatization and discovers a dark secrets on the set. Intrigued to read more. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Murder at a Midlands crematorium and a likeable detective recovering from PTSD. Solid set-up and storytelling. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes A nuanced and riveting plot exploring the complexities of fame and identity. The characters are brilliant and the narrative arc naturally develops without trying to cover too much ground to grip the reader. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Engaging 1940's time travel story comes to life through the setting and period details. Insightful, vivid and mysterious. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Ambitious near-future story of a wronged AI wife. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes A heartwarming, heartbreaking and hopeful YA story all wrapped up in one. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Unsettling, atmospheric exploration of grief and desire between townies on a pilgrimage in Spain. Body horror meets nature writing in a quasi-romantic, toxic friendship tale. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Confident and intriguing whodunnit with believable characters, well-built suspense and deliciously creepy vibes. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Striking, chilling speculative about malevolant water spirits in female form. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Vivid and engrossing fantasy about a factory worker with a luminous and magical secret, and their desperate search for a missing loved one. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Pacy crime story with a forensic linguists twist and series potential. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes A rising tide of intrigue as a young mother searches for the truth about her brother's death in France. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Ottawan widow hatches an unconventional rental plan. Entertaining storytelling, and rooting for the MC from the off. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Topical digital identity premise exploring the need to protect young people from themselves and others. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Eye-catching dramatic opening and an irresistable time travel mission. YES

BNA2025 Longlist Votes Reeling from a miscarriage and marital breakdown, a women finds new direction in life through a housesitting opportunity in coastal Suffolk. YES