Nota Bene Prize Press Release
Championing influential fiction celebrated by Notable Readers
Introducing the Nota Bene Prize
Championing influential fiction, the Nota Bene Prize focuses on thought-provoking and relatable reads that have received organic, word-of-mouth recognition. The Nota Bene Prize will guide open-minded readers towards acclaimed works of fiction that have been recommended by trusted, passionate, and notable readers.
Following a rebrand, the popular and long-standing Blogger's Book Prize has been transformed into the all-new Nota Bene Prize – a literary prize that engages with the vast and valuable online community of readers and content creators. Our new name, translated from Latin as 'note well', is a testament to the joy we find in taking note of and recognising brilliant words and narratives.
Previous winners of the prize include Milk, Blood, Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz, The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Things in Jars by Jess Kidd.
“This is a hugely exciting prize for both authors and readers alike. Its design-led nature and community feel that places the prize at the very heart of readership, and pays homage to the influential role the online community plays on the literary market. I can’t wait to see the amazing talent submitted and to watch a new generation of readers fall in love with this prize.” – Sophie Percival, Digital Manager at Agile Ideas
Who are Notable Readers?
Notable Readers are influential people in the reading community that are trusted to share excellent recommendations. Whether they’re authors, booksellers or online creators, they influence the books you pick up and cultivate a community of engaged readers.
Harnessing the power of the wider reading community, our Notable Readers will perform a crucial role in the Nota Bene Prize. To sign up to become a Notable Reader or to nominate your favourite Notable Reader, visit our website here.
Submissions
We’re excited that submissions for The Nota Bene Prize 2023 are now open! All submissions will be curated into a longlist, which will be shared amongst a pool of Notable Readers. This group of readers will create a shortlist, which will then be presented to an independent judging panel composed of industry professionals and well-established Notable Readers, who will determine the winner of The Nota Bene Prize 2023.
The winning book will be awarded a cash prize of £1500.
Submissions Criteria
Fiction titles only, from any genre.
Only books first published in the UK in 2022 are eligible.
Authors can be from any country as long as the title is published or readily available to all bookshop outlets in the UK (written in or translated into English).
Submissions are accepted from all publishers, small, independent or large, and a copy must be sent to the below address.
Publishers may submit multiple titles.
If you’re interested in submitting a title to the prize, please fill in our online form here and send at least one copy of your submitted title/s to:
Agile Ideas, c/o Nota Bene 2023
Studio 104
Leather Factory
1 Brook Lane
Holt
Wiltshire
BA14 6RL
Key Dates
Submissions open – 12th April 2023
Submissions close – 25th April 2023
Shortlisted announcement – 27th July 2023
Ceremony – 4th September 2023
Editorial Partner
The Nota Bene Prize's editorial partner is nb. Magazine - the literary magazine that curates and celebrates notable books. nb. will be covering the prize through its trademark interviews and reviews.
'I'm incredibly excited to be a part of the Note Bene Prize – an award whose values and ethos aligns beautifully with nb. magazine and its mission to share notable books that the reading community embraces wholeheartedly.' – Madeleine Knowles, Editor of nb. Magazine
About Agile Ideas
The Nota Bene Prize is run by Agile Ideas, an independent literary and marketing agency. Agile project manages, designs and markets a number of awards in the book trade, liaising with publishers and retailers to ensure the campaign to raise the profile of the independently selected titles is maximised in-store and amongst readers.
Social Media
Contacts
Press & Social Media: sophie@agile-ideas.com
Design: rob@agile-ideas.com
Submissions: danielle@agile-ideas.com
Editorial: madeleine@nbmagazine.co.uk; ruby@nbmagazine.co.uk
Commercial: luke@agile-ideas.com