Isle of Wight Book Awards to return with poetry prize

The awards are set to return to the Island Sailing Club in Cowes on Tuesday, October 6.

This year, the awards lunch is open to the public.

Book lovers, whether they are authors, keen readers, or simply enjoy a good lunch and celebration, are invited to join in.

The afternoon will kick off at midday with a glass of fizz, followed by a three-course lunch and the awards ceremony.

The proceedings are expected to wrap up between 3.30pm and 4pm.

Tickets, priced at £37.50, include the welcome drink and lunch.

The awards will acknowledge books in four categories this year: Children's, Fiction, Non-Fiction, and, for the first time, Poetry.

The introduction of the Poetry Prize is in remembrance of Marion Carmichael, a talented Island poet who clinched the very first Book Award with her collection of poems in the Fiction category.

The new prize, sponsored by Island Storytellers, is seen as a fitting tribute to her contribution to the Island's creative community.

The judging panel includes children's author Kieran Larwood, Sunday Times bestselling novelist Heidi Perks, crime historian and author Angela Buckley, and poet Lily Blacksell, who spent part of her childhood on the Island.

Each of the four category winners will receive £200, with the overall Isle of Wight Book of the Year receiving an additional £500.

The awards are supported by The Isle of Wight Festival, David and Patsy Franks, Creative Island, and Island Storytellers.

Their sponsorship has enabled the awards to continue, providing the Island's writers with the recognition they deserve.

Beyond celebrating the winning books, the afternoon will also raise money for the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

The charity provides free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support for Island children and young people.

There will be a short presentation from the trust, a raffle, and an opportunity to buy the judges' copies of the submitted books, with proceeds going to the charity.

The Book Awards aim to bring the Island's literary community together and highlight the talent in the area.