The Golden Egg Award

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Golden Egg Award is open to writers from backgrounds under-represented in children’s publishing. We are keen to hear from unagented, unpublished children’s fiction writers in the UK, who may identify as Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group, LGBTQ+, disabled or other groups not traditionally represented in the industry.

The aim of this Award is to support a diversification and inclusion of historically marginalised voices within the publishing sector. We believe that by supporting aspiring writers from backgrounds not traditionally represented in the industry, more and more children will start to see themselves represented in stories. 

AWARD FOR FICTION

THE PRIZE 

One winner will get:

• A free place on the 12 month Writing for Children and Young Adults course.
• A creative meeting with an agent or publisher to be announced.

WHO CAN APPLY? 
The Award is open to all unagented, unpublished writers who may identify as Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group, LGBTQ+, disabled or other groups not traditionally represented in the industry.

Our judges will be looking for aspiring writers with a strong voice and unique concept for a children’s or young adult fiction novel.

The Golden Egg Award for Fiction window for applications will open 31st October 2026 and closes midnight on 1st January 2027. 

Winners will be announced by 31st January 2027.

AWARD FOR PICTURE BOOKS 

THE PRIZE

One winner will get:

• A free place on our 12 month Writing Picture Books for Young Children course 2027.
• A creative meeting Emily Lamm, Picture Book Editorial Director, Farshore.

The Award is open to all unagented, unpublished picture book writers who may identify as Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group, LGBTQ+, disabled or other groups not traditionally represented in the industry.

Our judges will be looking for aspiring picture book writers with a unique voice and bright ideas for a children’s picture book.

The Award for Picture Books window opens 31st October 2026 and closes at midnight on 1st January 2027. 

Winners will be announced by 31st January 2027.

If you have any questions about the Golden Egg Award for Fiction or Picture Books please contact: [email protected]

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Diversity includes, according to Inclusive Minds, race and heritage, disability, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, religion, and culture. The applicant could identify themselves as being from one or more under-represented diverse groups.

OUR ETHOS

At Golden Egg we pride ourselves on our ethical approach to business and to publishing. Our aim always is to encourage diversity in books and publishing in general. Therefore, this award is aimed at encouraging diverse writers and diverse stories as well as providing opportunities for writers who would not normally be able to benefit from the expertise at the Golden Egg Academy.

At Golden Egg we are defining diversity according to the Inclusive Minds definition, which includes race and heritage, disability, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, religion and culture. The award is for writers of talent. The ultimate aim is to enable children to see themselves in the literature they are reading and meet published writers that they might wish to emulate.

GOLDEN EGG AWARD WINNERS

Award for Picture Books, 2026

Claire Mi-Son – winner

Sheena Garg – Highly commended

Award for Fiction Books, 2026

Helen Crevel – winner

Efua Mills-Robertson – Highly commended

Award for Picture Books, 2025

Gurpreet Atwal – winner

Jo Dearden – runner-up

Ian Peach – runner-up

Award for Fiction Books, 2025

Elizabeth Cox – winner

Helen Crevel– runner-up

Bibi Anisah Mohamoodally – runner-up

Award for Picture Books, March 2023

Antoinette Brooks – winner

Tara Button – winner

Taslim Nasser – runner-up

Humera Malik – runner-up

Saira Shah – runner-up

September 2022

Cabbi Charles– winner

Rebekah Humphrey Bullen – winner

Lucy Onion – runner-up

Kristina Rahim– runner-up

Claire Kerry – runner-up

September 2021

Habon Jama – winner

Leonni Lark – winner

Bibi Mohamoodally – runner-up

Madeleine Vaughan – runner-up

Sabrina J Elliott – runner-up

February 2021

Damilare Oladele

Dashani Shan

Quarto Translations/Golden Egg Academy Diversity Award 2017 – 2020

2020

Diversity fund created for Golden Egg writers in need.

2019 Winners

Martin Ng Wong – Diversity Award 2019

Butterfly Hartley – Cultural Award 2019

Stella Botchway

2019 Judging Panel

Imogen Cooper, GEA Founder/Director

Robin Bennett, CEO, Quarto Translations

Dr Vanessa Harbour, Business and Academic Relations

Adamma Okonkwo, Golden Egg Editor and Submissions Co-ordinator

Aimée Felone, Co-Founder, Knights Of

Simon James Green, author of NOAH CAN’T EVEN

Charlotte Eyre, Children’s Editor, The Bookseller

Philip Ardagh, author of THE GRUNTS

2018 Winner

Heather Marks, Fetters of Gold, 2018

2018 Judging Panel

Imogen Cooper, GEA Founder/Director

Robin Bennett, CEO, Quarto Translations

Dr Vanessa Harbour, Business and Academic Relations

Adamma Okonkwo, Golden Egg Editor and Submissions Co-ordinator

Sarah Odedina, Editor-at-Large, Pushkin Children’s Books

2017 Winner

Claire Lake, The Silversmith’s Boy

2017 Judging Panel

Imogen Cooper, GEA Founder/Director

Robin Bennett, CEO, Quarto Translations

Dr Vanessa Harbour, Business and Academic Relations

Adamma Okonkwo, Golden Egg Editor and Submissions Co-ordinator