BLOG: 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize Awards Reception

On Thursday 11th September, we were thrilled to host the 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize Awards Reception at Foyles on Charing Cross Road.

Guests from across the world - authors, agents, publishers, judges, librarians, volunteers and friends of the Prize - gathered to celebrate a remarkable year of adventure writing, and to discover the winners of the Best Published Novel, New Voices, and Author of Tomorrow awards. They are:

Best Published Novel Award

Costanza Casati with Babylonia (Penguin Michael Joseph)

New Voices Award

Sarah Ang with Whale Song
Oliver Tobias Bugg with Land of Water
Bidisha Chakraborty with The Fold
Marcella Marx with Invisible Animals
Sam McManus with A Bear Wakes in Winter

Author of Tomorrow Award

11 and Under: Mei Lau with Deep Dive
12–15 years: Amena Datoo with The Newfound Voice
16–21 years: Abbie Englund with The Dividing Line
Highly Commended by Niso Smith: Madeline Arcaro with Salt in Her Lungs

We were honoured to be joined on stage by endurance athlete and men’s mental health advocate Angus Collins, who has rowed oceans around the globe and holds five world records. He spoke about his experiences at sea, the physical challenge of facing the elements, and the inner battle of overcoming his own mental health struggles. His words were a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience at the heart of every great adventure.

We also heard from Atlas Weyland Eden, last year’s Author of Tomorrow Award 16-21 winner, who reflected on what adventure means to him, and his impressions of this years' shortlisted stories.

It was a wonderful evening, filled with warmth, celebration and a shared love of adventure writing. Congratulations to our winners and all those shortlisted, and thank you to everyone involved in making this year’s Prize a success. Long may the adventures continue!

Please contact Charlotte if you would like a high-resolution copy of any of the photographs above.