Pop Idol-style search for new authors
The second Pop Idol-style search for unknown authors was launched today with the help of a new judge – the brother of music mogul Simon Cowell.
The first instalment of Lit Idol began last year when an unknown 41-year-old was plucked from obscurity to land the prize.
Now the competition is on the hunt for a wannabe crime writer, who will win a deal with one of the world’s most well-known literary agencies, Curtis Brown.
Aspiring authors will have the daunting task of reading their work aloud in front of a panel of judges, which this year includes Simon’s older brother Tony Cowell.
Previous winner Paul Cavanagh, a former university professor and healthcare consultant, signed a “high five figure-sum” publishing deal with Harper Collins as a result of getting on the books of the literary agency.
Three studios have already made moves to buy film rights for his book – even though it is unfinished.
Today Cowell, 54, promised he would be nicer than his famous brother, whose cutting remarks have reduced Pop Idol and X Factor contestants to tears.
He said: “I’m not going to be the Mr Nasty of books. This is an open platform for aspiring authors who don’t have many opportunities to get their work seen.
“In pop music, everyone knows how it works. You can send a track to someone like my brother, who won’t listen to it, or if you’re a band you can get started by doing lots of gigs, and try and get noticed.
“For an aspiring author, there are only two avenues. You find an agent and a publisher.”
He added: “It’s very, very hard to find an agent and extremely difficult, without an agent, to get a publisher to look at your work.
“People do fall by the wayside and the more avenues we can provide for aspiring authors, the better.”
Aspiring writers are being asked to submit up to 10,000 words from the opening chapters of their novel and a two-page synopsis.
Following the competition closing date, January 14, professional readers will whittle down the scripts to a shortlist of five.
The finalists will have to read their work in front of a panel of judges and a People’s Vote will be held, which accounts for 25% of the final decision.
This year’s winner will be announced at the London Book Fair on March 14, in a ceremony which could be screened on TV.
