The first half of this year has seen three members get themselves into print, albeit two of them with the one book, and another secure a major publishing deal. We also have a few competition wins to announce.

Bob Hamilton and Emma Storr had Offcumdens published in April by Fair Acre Press, with a launch at The Leeds Library. Quite a few members came along that evening but if anyone wants to see Bob and Emma being interviewed by James Nash, that event can be viewed on YouTube here. A few articles and reviews have also appeared, in the Yorkshire Post, the Yorkshire News, Hello Yorkshire, Living North, and London Grip. So much to read there that there’s nothing more to be said here, other than to mention that the book got shortlisted for the Best Collaborative Work in the Saboteur Awards, in no small part due to the votes of Circle members and the thriving literary community centred upon Leeds, who won the award for Best Literature Festival.

Marg Greenwood has had her wonderful memoir Return to Muck published by Troubador. It tells of her experiences as a solo, older woman traveller in some lesser-known Scottish islands in the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Huge congratulations are due to Marg for bringing this long-running passion of hers to fruition.

Stephanie Soper (writing as Stephanie Thornton) won the Thriller Category in the Farnham Fiction Awards for The Watcher in the Woods.

Emma Storr was longlisted for the Fish Poetry Prize before winning the Sonnet Prize in the Ware Poetry Competition, for Devotee.

John Biglands has had his story The House by the Woods accepted for publication in Existere – Journal of Arts and Literature, to appear in edition 41.2. He was also shortlisted for the LoveReading very short story award with Charlie.

Finally, the most exciting news of all is that Sarah Dodd (writing as Sarah Brooks), after winning the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2019 for her novel The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands, has secured a major deal for the book to be published in the summer of 2024 by Weidenfeld & Nicholson, the winners of a reportedly fierce 11-way auction for the UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada). The Trade Magazine The Bookseller reports publishing director Federico Andornino saying that W&N left no stone unturned in landing Brooks’ novel, and that he was reminded of encountering David Mitchell’s novels for the first time, suggesting it’s going to be—quite literally—the ride of a lifetime. The seeds of the novel came from an “unforgettable” journey that Sarah made on the Trans-Siberian Express two decades ago.

Sarah has also got deals for the North American rights and translation rights around a number of European territories. It’s set to be quite an adventure, indeed the ride of a lifetime, for both her and all her future readers. Huge congratulations, Sarah. We at the Circle all know how well deserved is your success. You give us all great inspiration.