Literary Contest – Novels for Youth: Deadline fast approaching

The National Book Council announces that the deadline for the submitting of applications for the Literary Contest – Novels for Youth, is fast approaching.

Applications will stop being considered after noon on Friday, 7th September.

The contest, in conjunction with Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, is now in its eight year and throughout these years its primary aim was to encourage writers to produce quality literature that specifically addresses the concerns and life of teenagers.

Apart from a trophy and certificate, the winner or winners of the contest will be awarded with a financial gift of €1,000. Eventually their text will be published by a publisher of their own choice.

In fact Matthew Schembri, winner of the 2016 contest, will soon be publishing his book Stessi, which will be hitting local bookstores soon. The book is published by Merlin Publishers, and is the latest in a series of publications sprouting after a success in this contest.

It tells of a camera which takes a life of its own and starts taking selfies. Through this plot, Schembri delves into themes such as narcissism and this new culture of taking selfies.

One can also look at previous winners of the Literary Contest – Novels for Youth by clicking here.

Applicants should be 20 years of age or more, and the text submitted should be original and in between 20,000 and 25,000 words.

For more details about eligibility one can visit this link, and also download the application form from here.