"A treasure trove" of a shortlist - we're thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Encore Award.

This year’s judges were Malika Booker, Rachel Aroesti, and Anita Sethi, who selected four powerful novels for their shortlist:

Book Review: Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington #Sycorax #NydiaHetherington @QuercusBooks @RandomTTours Synopsis Born of the sun and moon, shaped by fire and malady, comes a young woman whose story has never been told…They call her Sycorax. Seer. Sage. Sorceress.Outcast by society and all …

🌊Book Review🌊

Today it’s my stop on the blog tour for Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington

#Sycorax @nydiawriter.bsky.social @quercusbooks.bsky.social @annerandomthings.bsky.social

💙📚 #booksky #bookreview #bookblogger #books #blogtour

Five books laid out on glass table. Top three include Sycorax(blue background) by Nydia Hetherington; Life boat at the End of the World(Green & grey background) by Dominic Gregory; Is A River Alive(green background) by Robert Macfarlane; New Cemetery(black background by Simon Armitage & Tender (pale peach background)by Harry Baker.

A selection of great books to read & savour after enjoying @favlit.org
Sycorax by @nydiawriter.bsky.social
The Lifeboat at the End of the Word by Dominic Gregory
Is A River Alive by @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
Tender by Harry Baker &
New Cemetery by Simon Armitage
#Books

Thank you! I hope you enjoy her story x

Front cover of paperback book entitled SYCORAX by Nydia Hetherington. The book cover shows swirls of sea in shades of blue with a small ship in the foreground.

Enjoyed listening to Nydia Hetherington @nydiawriter.bsky.social talking about her intriguing novel #Sycorax at @favlit.org She described her love of Shakespeare & desire to tell a much fuller story about the unseen character from The Tempest.

I bought the book & can’t wait to get reading it.

Tickets for FLF 2026 are now on sale!

Lineup includes Bob Geldof, Jeanette Winterson, Ian McEwan, Charlie Higson & Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves), Jenny Eclair, Sir Trevor McDonald, Rob Newman, Sarah Raven, Simon Armitage, Rachel Parris, Robert Macfarlane and much more

See our website for details

Clare Riley on Instagram: "#bookreview I’ve seen The Tempest, and so I was interested to see an origin story for Sycorax - the most powerful witch of Algiers. Except she isn’t the evil monster that S... 0 likes, 0 comments - clares_little_book_obsession on November 16, 2025: "#bookreview I’ve seen The Tempest, and so I was interested to see an origin story for Sycorax - the most powerful witch of Al...

My thoughts on Sycorax by @nydiawriter.bsky.social is over on instagram - a lyrical imagining of the formative years of Shakespeare’s character from The Tempest.
💙📚🔮🪐🖋️
#booksky

www.instagram.com/p/DRHNp5ajLh...

Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers Four talented disabled writers will receive nine months of mentoring from a published author, plus a tutorial with a literary agent.

Last chance to apply to our Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers.

Four talented writers will be awarded nine months of mentoring from a published author-mentor and a tutorial with a literary agent.

Apply by 2 Nov: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/course/break...

Mentors for our Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers include
@pollyrowena.bsky.social, Lisette Auton, @nydiawriter.bsky.social, @clotimms.bsky.social and @clairerwade.bsky.social.

From left: Polly Atkin, Lisette Auton, Nydia Hetherington, Claire Wade and Chloe Timms

Mentors for our Breakthrough Mentoring Programme for Disabled Writers include @pollyrowena.bsky.social, Lisette Auton, @nydiawriter.bsky.social, @clotimms.bsky.social and @clairerwade.bsky.social.

My huge thanks to Wilbur Niso Smith Foundation for the 2025 shortlisted books by Costanza Casati @nydiawriter.bsky.social @jackjordanbooks.bsky.social @dmccaulay.bsky.social Samantha Sotto Yambao @nussaibah.bsky.social to Read Share Recommend
Each sounds superb and I know Redemption is!

Sycorax - The Book Trail BookTrail Boarding Pass:  Redemption Destination/Location: Algiers, Mediterranean  Author:  Nydia Hetherington   Departure: 1600s

Sycorax
by @nydiawriter.bsky.social
Set in Algiers and the Mediterranean

Shortlisted for the 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize!

www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/...

@Wilbur_Niso_Fdn #adventurewriting #bookmap #booktrail @quercus62.bsky.social

How I write - in convo with Nydia Hetherington Grab a cuppa and get to know author, Nydia Hetherington. Nydia is in conversation with Claire Wade, discussing her work and career and to offer a glimpse…

How I Write with Nydia Hetherington

If you missed my conversation with @nydiawriter.bsky.social you can catch up now.

It was great to hear about Nydia's new book Sycorax, as well as about #publishing as a #disabled #author.

vimeo.com/showcase/704...

#books @societyofauthors.bsky.social

How I write - in conversation with Nydia Hetherington - The Society of Authors Grab a cuppa and get to know author, Nydia Hetherington. Nydia will be in conversation with Claire Wade to discuss her work and career and to offer a glimpse into his creative routine.

To celebrate #DisabilityPrideMonth the @societyofauthors.bsky.social is hosting an In Conversation this week (17th July, 14:30 BST).

I’m interviewing @nydiawriter.bsky.social

Nydia is an author living with chronic illness. Her second novel Sycorax was published in February 2025.

bit.ly/4lNjfdF

The Best New Fantasy Books of July 2025 July is a monster month for fantasy readers, full of highly anticipated sequels, new titles from established favorites, and buzzy debuts.

Thank you @pastemagazine.bsky.social for including SYCORAX on your list of Best Fantasy Books of July 25. So lovely to see! #Booksky #booksky

www.pastemagazine.com/books/fantas...

Second great book of the day I’m sharing. It will be a joy to welcome @nydiawriter.bsky.social back onto the podcast soon too

Thank you! I'm very much looking forward to it.

A hardback copy of the book Sycorax by Nydia Hetherington. It’s the American edition with an orange and blue design on the jacket. The book is outside on a wooden table. There are trees behind it & a cup of coffee in a white mug next to it

Good morning America! And happy American Publication Day to Sycorax. I can’t wait for North American readers to meet her. Thank you to Pegasus_Books for publishing this beautiful edition of #Sycorax 🧡🧡🧡 #booksky

How I write - in conversation with Nydia Hetherington - The Society of Authors Grab a cuppa and get to know author, Nydia Hetherington. Nydia will be in conversation with Claire Wade to discuss her work and career and to offer a glimpse into his creative routine.

I’m really looking forward to talking to @nydiawriter.bsky.social about her fabulous book Sycorax, her experience of disability, writing and publishing and how she wove disability through her story.

How I write – in conversation with Nydia Hetherington
17 July @ 14:30 BST

FREE

bit.ly/4lNjfdF

I can't wait for July 1st when the North American edition of Sycorax will be published by Pegasus Books based in NYC. What a thrill. Sycorax will be in bookstores across the USA & Canada in just a few short weeks! Yay! Of course, you can pre-order now, too! Super YAY!

She’s here!! My author copies of the North American edition of Sycorax, published by the truly wonderful
@Pegasus_Books
have arrived. And she is GORGEOUS! Out in USA & Canada on 1st July. I can’t wait for American readers to discover Sycorax’s story! #booksky #Sycorax

Thank you! 🥰

I am honoured and excited to share the news that Sycorax has been SHORTLISTED (eek!) for the amazing Wilbur Smith Published Novel Prize for Adventure Writing. I'm beside myself with joy. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors! #Booksky #books #adventurewritingprize #booksky #authorlife

I always forget to do #booksky 😀

www.amazon.co.uk/Sycorax-capt...
SYCORAX is at a nice lower price at the mo'. In case anyone might be thinking of getting it 💙🌊

Seeing your book looking gorgeous stacked on a table in Waterstones never gets old. There she is 🥰💙🌊 looking lovely @waterstones.bsky.social in Bromley 🥰💙🌊⚡️

Thank you xx

Thrilled to be on this longlist! Congratulations to all the longlisted authors & thank you to The Wilbur Smith Prize for Adventure Writing. What an honour!

Thank you xx