Society of Author Awards at Brunel University London Celebrate Prof Benjamin Zephaniah and Dr Hannah Lowe
Described by judge Cerrie Burnell as ‘moving, humorous and lovely all at once’, the picture book in verse wins the SoA’s Queen’s Knickers Award for an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0–7. The judges were impressed by its ‘powerful message’ about people power and the importance of connecting with others.
Their awards, announced today in advance of tonight’s SoA Awards ceremony at Southwark Cathedral, were among 31 winners sharing a total prize fund of over £140,000. The awards are for authors at all stages of their careers, for books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, across a variety of genres.
Brunel will be scooping two awards tonight, with Dr Hannah Lowe, a multi-award-winning Reader in Creative Writing, receiving a Travel Scholarship.
Quirky, new and attention-grabbing
Sponsored by its founder Nicholas Allan, the Queen’s Knickers Award (total prize fund £6,000) recognises books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement.
Prof Zephaniah – poet, writer, musician, actor, BAFTA winner and national treasure – teamed up with Nila Aye to create People Need People, published in May 2023.
Queen’s Knickers Award judge Salomey Doku said: “People Need People stood out to us as a book that delivers a truly heartfelt message in a really digestible, friendly and succinct way. We all felt that Benjamin’s words were simple and effective, but also poignant and possessing of a permanent relevance.
“Paired with Nila’s superbly detailed and diverse illustrations, which encourage children to spend time with each scene and character… This is the kind of book that we could see both children and adults returning to again and again – a book that is uniquely, intentionally, beautifully global in its approach and personality.”
Engaging with writers abroad
The Travelling Scholarships are awarded to British writers to enable engagement with writers abroad.
Dr Hannah Lowe is a poet, memoirist and academic. Her latest book, The Kids, won the Costa Poetry Award and the Costa Book of the Year, 2021. She is one of six scholarship recipients, each awarded £5,800.
Now, more than ever, books matter
The SoA, the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, was established in 1884.
Speaking about the SoA’s awards, keynote speaker and best-selling author Kate Mosse said: “All literary awards celebrate outstanding, exceptional, imaginative, ground-breaking work. What I love about the SoA Awards is that they honour many authors, working in a whole range of disciplines and at different stages in their writing careers.
“Now, more than ever, books matter – they offer us the chance to stand in other people’s shoes, to hear about lives other than our own, they encourage empathy and conversation. I know that when we gather together on 20 June, we will do so in the spirit of every voice mattering, every story being something to celebrate.”