The Bath Novel Award 2015
2015 Judge: Mildred Yuan of United Agents
2015 WINNER
CLARISSA N. GOENAWAN for RAINBIRDS
“RAINBIRDS is a deeply thoughtful book that follows Ren as he grieves for his sister, Keiko, who was suddenly murdered in the prime of her life. Evocative and beautifully written, Clarissa explores how we sometimes only think to get to know a loved one when they are dead and gone. This novel is my winner for its unmatched combination of a lightness of style combined with a compelling story” – 2015 Judge, Mildred Yuan of United Agents.
“I didn’t think I’d stand a chance.” Read our Winner’s Q&A with Clarissa N. Goenawan
Clarissa N. Goenawan is a Singapore-based writer, mentee on the WoMentoring Project and Curtis Brown Creative graduate. She loves rainy days, pretty books, and hot green teas. Since winning, Clarissa received several offers of representation and has now signed with leading international literary agent, Anna Soler-Pont of Pontas Agency. Clarissa is currently editing her second novel.
Read the first chapter of RAINBIRDS by Clarissa N Goenawan
2015 RUNNER UP
ROBIN FALVEY for FULMAR
“Written with energy and tons of heart, FULMAR was a close second for me. Bringing to life a cast of colourful characters in the surf community in Cornwall, troubled teen Jacob fights to stay away from gang leader Aiden and his group of lads. It is the surf club and the surfing that saves him. Well-drawn characters leap off the page in this gritty YA, and I cheered and almost cried when Jacob finally does the right thing, recognising the inevitable summer inside himself and kicking trouble for good”- 2015 Judge, Mildred Yuan of United Agents.
In 2007 Robin Falvey, a lifelong surfer and waterman left his NHS desk job and headed off to sail Southern Ocean. After coming close to death in extreme storms and surfing tropical coral reefs, he moved to Cornwall, took a Master’s in journalism did a couple of stints at BBC Radio Cornwall and Radio Plymouth before realising Fulmar was the story he had to write. Read the first chapter of FULMAR
2015 SHORTLISTED
ANDREW J KING for THE ARROW GARDEN
Andrew J. King is a Senior Lecturer in Critical Theory at The Arts University of Bournemouth who feels he has always lived in two places: ‘this world and the real one’. As a writer, Andrew was inspired by his friendship with artist, photographer and director Tim MacMillan, whose time-freezing films and magic back door key into Japanese culture provided extraordinary images and experiences which became building blocks.
THE ARROW GARDEN is the story of a technical translator who accepts a colleague’s invitation to study Japanese archery in an abandoned bowling green in Bristol’s Brandon Park. Meanwhile, in post-war Japan, a young woman starting her career is filled with memories of war and strange recollections of events in a park in a mysterious otherworld. Read the first chapter of THE ARROW GARDEN
2015 SHORTLISTED
HOLLIE OVERTON for BABY DOLL
A native of Kingsville, Texas, Hollie Overton found herself drawn to storytelling first as an actress, then a writer. Hollie trained in New York at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before moving to Hollywood where she found success as a TV writer. Past TV writing credits include CBS Drama “Cold Case” and Lifetime’s “The Client List.” 
Hollie is currently a writer on ABC Family’s drama “Shadowhunters” based on the Mortal Instruments book series. Hollie has since won a major publishing deal with Penguin Random House BABY DOLL was inspired by Hollie’s love of suspense thrillers and her relationship with her twin sister Heather and the fierce bond they share.
2015 LONGLISTED
A Corner of the Artist’s Room |
Sinead Mooney |
A Shadow in the Blood |
Martin J Gilbert |
All The Way Back Things |
Jane Heather |
Angel Dust |
Rose Lewenstein |
Fierce Animals |
Fran Slater |
Hope |
Brogan McEllan |
La Femme au Chapeau |
Cathy De’Freitas |
Mother Tongue |
Tanya Atapattu |
My Perfect Mind |
Annabel Abbs |
On a Sunday |
Grainne Murphy |
Sister of Mine |
Laurie Petrou |
Tall Oaks |
Chris Whitaker |
The Fourth Chimurenga |
Sandi Fikuart |
The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman |
Robin Gregory |
The Insect House |
Shirley Day |
The Thing I Love |
Samuel Wright |
Thinking Only of Arriving |
Vicky Grut |
This Eden Called Warsaw |
Suzanne Reisman |
Truth Like Water |
Carys Shannon |