Staunch Book Prize
すたうんち・ぶっくしょう
Literary award given to thriller novels that do not depict violence against women (established 2018).
ThrillerCrime fictionLiterary award
- Established
- 2018
- Organizer
- Staunch Book Prize (Founder: Bridget Lawless)
- Category
- Genre Fiction
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Open
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Ended
Description
The Staunch Book Prize targets thriller novels in which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped, or murdered. Established in 2018 by British writer and screenwriter Bridget Lawless. Open to traditionally published, self-published, and unpublished works, with a £2,000 prize funded by the founder. Entry fee is £20. Winners are announced annually on November 25, but the novel category was temporarily suspended in 2021, and the prize closed in 2022 (official site archived).
Prize
- Main Prize
- £2,000 prize money awarded to the winner (funded by founder Bridget Lawless)
- Cash Prize
- 2,000 GBP
- Entry fee: £20 (paid upon submission)
- Traditionally published, self-published, and unpublished works eligible
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application reception (open call) | — | Application reception on official website (follow submission guidelines) | |
| First round (shortlist creation) | — | Shortlist announced officially (varies by year) | |
| Final selection (winner determination) | — | Winners announced annually on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) |
Application reception (open call)
Judges
Announcement
Application reception on official website (follow submission guidelines)
First round (shortlist creation)
Judges
Announcement
Shortlist announced officially (varies by year)
Final selection (winner determination)
Judges
Announcement
Winners announced annually on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women)
Criteria
- Must be a novel in the thriller genre
- No woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped, or murdered in the work ("a novel in the thriller genre in which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped or murdered.")
- Publication format does not matter (traditional publishing, self-publishing, unpublished works eligible)
- Literary quality, plot originality, etc., general work evaluation criteria
Application Tips
Dos
- 応募要項をまず確認し、作品が賞の定義（女性への暴力表現を含まないこと）を満たしているか確認する
- 作品ジャンルがスリラーであることを明確にする
- 応募原稿の完成度（プロット、人物描写、推敲）を高める
- エントリー料£20を準備し、指定された応募フォーマットで提出する
- 公式サイトや公式発表で締切・要項の最新情報を確認する
Don''ts
- 女性への暴力（殴打・ストーキング・性的搾取・強姦・殺害など）を描写して応募すること
- ジャンルを偽って応募すること
- 応募規定や提出形式を守らないこと
- 不正確な応募情報を提出すること
From Judges
- Bridget Lawless（創設者）: 「女性が極端な拷問や性的暴力の犠牲として扱われる描写に懸念がある」(要旨)
- Jock Serong（2018年受賞者）: 「この賞は物語で女性を安易な犠牲者にする手法に対処する」(要旨)
- Hallie Rubenhold（評論）: 「理念は高潔だが、女性への暴力を記述する必要性を主張する声もある」(要旨)
Related Awards
- Crime and thriller literary awards such as CWA (Crime Writers' Association) Dagger Awards
- Domestic noir / crime fiction literary awards and festivals
- Creation support and open calls considering gender representation and violence depiction