You can’t be a reader of thriller fiction and not be familiar with the name Wilbur Smith; I first came across his work as a teenager with the movie Gold, an adaptation of his novel Gold Mine. A titan of the genre, he’s been writing since the mid-sixties and is best known for books like Shout at the Devil and his ‘Courtney’ series. When he generously reached out to tell me that he’d enjoyed my novel Nomad, I was taken aback – praise from Caesar indeed…
And so I’m very proud to announce that Nomad had been nominated for The 2017 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize! I’m in some top-notch company here, alongside Frank Gardner (Crisis), David Gilman (The Last Horseman), Graham Hurley (Finisterre), Stef Penney (Under a Pole Star) and Sara Sheridan (On Starlit Seas). The prize is presented by The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, a group devoted to empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing.
Niso Smith, Founder of The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, says: “The Prize is the Foundation’s flagship programme. We are delighted to have received such a high standard of submissions, from both established novelists and writers submitting their debut work of fiction. There are many talented adventure authors writing today and they need to be recognised for their outstanding work.” She continues, “The shortlist really encapsulates the spirit of adventure writing. Each novel allows us a glimpse into different worlds and times, from modern-day to historical settings, and each with clear threats to overcome – whether that’s a fearsome human enemy, societal conventions, or the formidable power of nature.”
You can read more about the prize here, or visit the Foundation website here.
