MEET THE JUDGES FROM THE BLUE PENCIL FIRST NOVEL PRIZE

Join us for the latest of our events in conjunction with the Blue Pencil Agency, featuring literary agent Oliva Maidment from the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency and author Freya Bromley. They are the First Novel Award judges: BPA First Novel Award 2026 | Blue Pencil Agency | Literary Consultancy

Whether you’re an aspiring novelist, a writer preparing to submit, or simply curious about how publishing works behind closed doors, held monthly, these two-hour events offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the full publishing journey — from the moment a promising novel lands in an agent’s inbox to the day it reaches bookshop shelves. This event will be especially useful for anyone planning to enter the First Novel Award, but will also include valuable tips on submitting to literary agents and competitions more broadly.

Olivia Maidment is a Director & Literary…