We are delighted to share the news that one of our Amplify alumni, Theo Malings, has been named the winner of the Faber Action! Prize, winning a worldwide publishing contract with Faber and a £12,000 advance.
Theo won the prize with an excerpt from her YA sci-fi fantasy thriller The Red Twilight, which the judges declared “an electric read, closely synched to the gaming landscape” with a storyline that “held them by the throat”.
The Action! Prize was launched by Faber with Gamarra in 2024 “in direct response to research from the National Literacy Trust that revealed children’s reading enjoyment was at its lowest level in almost two decades”. The competition asks for fast paced children’s fiction that could rival TV and film offerings, with adventurous and heartfelt themes. The aim is to boost reading for pleasure and enjoyment among younger readers. Second and third place in the prize went to Jonny Davison for The Knight Thief and Chris Watney’s Axel Ström vs the End of the World.
Theo was awarded a bursary to attend the Amplify programme, impressing us with her commitment to her practice. Of her recent success she said:
“Last year, when I came to Amplify, I was struggling a lot with procrastination and desperately trying to get my Adult Upmarket novel finished. Winning a high-profile publishing contract, especially with an unwritten YA novel, has been more than a little overwhelming, but the reflective practice I learned on Amplify has been instrumental in keeping me sane and grounded and able to keep writing. I wanted to let you know how much I got out of Amplify, and how much I appreciated being able to do it.”
We wish Theo every possible success in this exciting next stage of development with her book!
About Amplify
Amplify is TLC’s small group coaching programme for intermediate and advanced writers who are looking for a programme that supports and sustains their wellbeing, confidence, and resilience. Using strength-based methodology and led by a qualified coach, Amplify takes writers through a 12-week journey to help sustain a healthy creative practice, and reach goals holistically. The next Amplify programme will be starting in September 2025. To register early interest, please email us.
