Fiction Uncovered, a major new literary promotion, launches!

Fiction Uncovered, a major new promotion to support our best fiction writers, is launched today (Friday 22 October 2010). The promotion pledges to support those writers who deserve recognition but have yet to receive a major literary prize or media attention, or be picked for retailer promotions.

Fiction Uncovered will create the opportunity for eight fiction writers (novels, short stories, graphic novels) in the UK to be part of a major promotion supported by retailers, and a major publicity and marketing campaign.

The promotion is supported by Arts Council England and funded by the National Lottery. Retailers including Waterstone’s, Foyles and The Book Depository will support the promotion, and Fiction Uncovered is working in partnership with The Reading Agency to reach libraries and reading groups. 

The eight titles for the Fiction Uncovered promotion will be selected by a judging panel. The Chair of Judges for Fiction Uncovered 2011 is the writer Giles Foden. He will be joined by Damian Barr (author, playwright, journalist and host of the Soho House Literary Salon), Simon Burke (Fiction Buying Manager, Waterstone’s) and Sarah Crown (Literary Editor, Guardian Online).

The eight titles selected for the inaugural Fiction Uncovered will be announced in spring 2011 and go into a Waterstone’s ‘3 for 2’ promotion. The titles will also go into in-store and online promotions with other on and offline retailers. 

Fiction Uncovered events with the Hay Festival, the Shoreditch House Literary Salon and To Hell with the Lighthouse will take place in spring and summer 2010.

Fiction Uncovered will also host a community website at www.fictionuncovered.co.uk which offers the eight selected writers – and an even broader group of writers through year-round recommendation and endorsement – a chance to reach wider audiences. Launch reading recommendations come from writers including James Meek, Matt Thorne, Tibor Fischer, Tessa Hadley, Alex Clark, Sarah Crown, Bernardine Evaristo and Nicholas Blincoe.

Giles Foden, Chair of Judges, says today:

“It's a pleasure to be involved in this important venture which will help to focus attention on good authors who, for one reason or another, have slipped out of view,? or are in danger of doing so. The media spotlight is fairly fickle and booksellers often have no choice but to follow its wanderings. Fiction Uncovered will go a small way in redirecting the beam.”

Press enquiries: Contact Emma Young: emma.r.young@gmail.com