We are delighted not only to announce the forthcoming debut novel by TLC writer Katharine Orton, but also to share the news that Katharine has generously decided to sponsor a low income writer with some of her advance, paying forward her ACE-funded Free Read to another writer who might benefit from the feedback she herself received in 2016 through the South West’s regional literature development agency Literature Works. Literature Works nominated Katharine for a Free Read in 2016, and she received feedback from TLC reader Davinia Andrew-Lynch to support her towards a re-write.
Katharine’s middle grade novel, Nevertell, is set in the wilderness of Siberia. The book tells the story of 11-year-old Lina, who was born in a Soviet prison camp but escapes one night with her best friend Bogdan. As they journey across Siberia they encounter a dangerous sorceress and her army of shadow wolves. Walker Books acquired world rights in all languages in a pre-empt from Katharine’s agent Bryony Woods at Diamond Kahn & Woods. The book will publish in Autumn 2019 in the UK.
Katharine joins a host of donors who continue to provide vital support to TLC, which has a commitment to match-fund some of the money it receives from Arts Council England to enable it to continue to offer bursaries to low-income and marginalised writers. In the period 2015-2018, TLC awarded 298 bursaries to low-income writers, along with over 100 free tickets, including travel, to events at its London base. Other writers and organisations who have supported TLC in this way, sponsoring both manuscript assessments and event tickets, include Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, Michael Langan, My Ly, Kit de Waal, Hachette, the Publishers’ Association, Clays, Bluemoose, Hachette, and Jacaranda Books. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of donors, most especially to those who were formerly clients who have kindly decided to pay it forward, passing on the value to others.
On making the decision to sponsor a Free Read, Katharine wrote:
“From the moment I received my Free Read, I knew that I wanted to pay it forward – if and when that became possible. As writers (and humans more generally!) it feels necessary to help each other through whatever barriers we face, in whichever ways we can. For a professional to take my writing seriously and offer vital feedback was a huge deal for me. To now be able to help give someone else this opportunity is an absolute privilege.”
TLC has selected Sadie Nott to award this Free Read to. Sadie began writing creatively at age fifty. She did a short course at City Lit, then attended an Arvon retreat. She will receive her Free Read on a draft of her first novel A Ton of Feathers, which she is actively seeking representation for. Sadie was recently announced as the winner of a Creative Future Literary Award, a series of awards recognising under-represented writers, which brought her work to the attention of TLC. Sadie’s writing explores emotional pain and the things we do to numb or mask it. She draws on her background in psychology, imagination, and her own experience of living with mental health troubles.
About Katharine Orton
Katharine Orton was born in London and now lives in Bristol with her husband and young son. She signed with her agent, Bryony Woods, after taking part in the WoMentoring scheme, and her debut middle grade novel Nevertell comes out in autumn 2019 with Walker Books.
