Previous Finalists

Comments from Authors/Publishers

‘I was so happy to learn I’d won the Gold Award for the 9-12 year old category of the 2014 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for my title, Shadow Jumper. What is so refreshingly different from many other awards is that it is judged by readers (in the case of my book, by school children). The fact that each entrant gets constructive, invaluable feedback is also a great bonus and is what attracted me to enter the competition in the first place. Edward Trayner took time to look my book up on Amazon before he agreed to place it in the competition - just one demonstration of the thoroughness with which the Awards are run. Edward has been professional and approachable throughout the whole process. There is a friendly Facebook group which he frequently visits to keep entrants up-dated with competition news and progress.
Taking part in this competition has undoubtedly had an impact on sales and will help future marketing endeavours - I can now call myself an award-winning author!

I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the Wishing Shelf Book Awards to any self-published or independently-published author, whether writing for children or adults and I shall be returning to the competition when my next book is completed.

Thank you, Edward Trayer for making the experience so worthwhile and enjoyable.’

J M Forster, author of Shadow Jumper

‘The Wishing Shelf award has aided me in so many opportunities, since winning the gold last year. I was able to sign a book distributor for all of my books, which I believe was only possible having the award to display on my cover. I also gave me a huge boost of confidence, having 35 children agree that my books are excellent. Their unique perspective is golden to an children’s book author, giving insight into how they read, comprehend, and enjoy books.’

Julie Anne Grasso, author of Frankie Dupont and the Mystery of Enderby Manor

’The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards I recommend to anyone who has self published a book. Firstly, because it means your book will be read by a group of judges in London and another in Stockholm, people who love reading and reviewing books, and whose opinion on your work is well worth hearing. Reading and writing are both solitary occupations, so entering your book for the awards makes you feel part of something, in contact with others who love literature. It is not the winning it is the taking part that is important, people say, and that is true. I entered my book, Angel War, for The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for 2013, and it was chosen as one of the finalists, I am pleased to say. I enjoyed being part of the awards and was interested by the other books that were entered for them. When it is published, I plan to enter my light-hearted science fiction story, Klubbe the Turkle and the Golden Star Coracle for the 2015 awards, to prove how much I think the awards are worth entering.’

Philip Dodd, author of Angel War

’It was a delightful surprise to win the 2011 Wishing Shelf Awards for our book, ’A Monkey, a Mouse and a CPAP Machine’. It really brought home the feeling that all our hard work was worthwhile.

To say that our lives have changed since winning the award is an understatement. Within a few weeks of winning, we were guests on BBC Radio Suffolk, where presenter Lesley Dolphin interviewed us for a full 40 minutes about the book, our motivation for writing, and whether Rufus (the book’s hero) was going to appear in any more adventures soon!

It’s certainly heartening to be ’award-winning’ authors but, more importantly, it has led us to becoming linked with such organisations as the British Lung Foundation and the British Polio Fellowship which are now using our book as part of their teaching and advice programmes for both adults and children.

The Wishing Shelf Award has been instrumental in promoting our book, and we are very grateful for it has enabled us to help people on such a wide scale, which has been spiritually rewarding too!’

Marion Maz Mason, Steve B Mason, authors of A Monkey, a Mouse and a CPAP Machine

’I have been very impressed by The Wishing Shelf Awards. My book, James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra, has been read by school children in London, advertised widely in a widely-read literary magazine and I’ll soon receive an Amazon review. This is excellent publicity for my book and all for just £28. Edward Trayer, the founder of the award, has worked tirelessly to promote the books entered in the competition. I’m slightly embarrassed to think I paid such a small entry fee for all these services and I’d encourage any self-published author to enter the award. You won’t regret it.’

Colm McElwain, author of James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra