Welcome to the SPF Weekly Write-Up, where each Wednesday we collect together the self-publishing news of the week so you don’t have to.

This week: two literary prizes are awarded – the Kindle Storyteller award, and the Man Booker Prize.

The Kindle Storyteller Award 2019 Winner Is…

…Ian W. Sainsbury, for his book The Picture on the Fridge!

His book “follows a mother and wife battling self-doubt and suspicions after her daughter draws a mysterious picture of a place they’ve never been. As her life begins to unravel, and her paranoia and suspicion towards her husband mounts, Mags discovers an unimaginable secret.”

Ian won a £20,000 cash prize and was recognised at a central London awards ceremony. If previous years are anything to go by, the Kindle Storyteller award should open again next May to September.

And the Man Booker Prize 2019 Winner is…

…Margaret Atwood and Bernadine Evaristo. Eh?

Despite being told specifically that they couldn’t split the prize, the Man Booker Prize judges have decided to… well, split the prize. As such there are two winners this year – Margaret Atwood for The Testaments, and Bernadine Evaristo for Girl, Woman, Other.

The Testaments is the sequel to Atwood’s popular novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, whereas Girl, Woman, Other is about the lives of twelve very different characters across the country and through the years.

Winners receive £50,000 (or in this case, I presume £25,000 each).

Tom Ashford

Tom Ashford is a professional copywriter, author of numerous dark fantasy and sci-fi novels, and the Head of Content at the Self Publishing Formula Blog. His books include the Blackwater trilogy and the Checking Out series.

He lives in London with his wife, in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets. Find out more about Tom here.