BLOG: The judges - who are they and what are they looking for?

"Judges, assemble!" 

If only it were that easy! Here at Prize HQ, we take our time bringing together a group of people to form a curious and considerate jury, each bringing a different perspective to the decision of who will take home the £10,000 pot for the annual Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.

It's only fair that we assess our judges with the same sense of adventure we ask them to judge the books with. And so, we need a panel who are able to teach us and each other something about the world, that bring the courage and resilience we expect to see in the heroes of the books they're reading, who come from different backgrounds or work in different spaces, and of course to recognise an 'unputdownable' journey when they're presented with one.

But who are the judges for 2025 and what are they looking for? We're joined by Nathan Gray, fighter pilot, test pilot, war veteran and first generation farmer; Keme Nzerem, journalist, broadcaster, filmmaker and founder of Opening Up the Outdoors; Francesca de Tores, author and winner of the 2024 Prize; and Corinne Turner, literary estate consultant and owner. We caught up with them to dip our toe into the water of what they think adventure is, and what they'll be looking for in the shortlisted titles.

WNSF: Adventure means different things to different people. When you think of adventure, what comes to mind?

Corinne: I was contemplating this as I started reading the shortlist titles, as I needed to understand what it is that I’m judging. Having read a few of them now, I think it is taking a journey, either small or big, that takes the protagonist out of their comfort zone and gives them new and challenging experiences.

Nathan: Any journey, big or small, that is exciting and pushes your own personal limits and boundaries. As a famous poet once wrote ‘Whatever you can, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!’.

WNSF: As a reader, what pulls you into a story and keeps you turning the pages?

Keme: I adore getting to know complex and maverick characters muddling through the nuance and bedlam of life. Life is busy and I want to be taken places with sparkling and witty writing that allows me to dissolve into someone else's world. I'm also fascinated by justice and power - I love to see the flawed and conflicted bumble their way towards some kind of righteous triumph - however ephemeral.  

Nathan: Clever and unexpected twists in storyline that challenge how I originally perceived the characters and situations originally presented. Intriguing, new knowledge and information that expands my mind and broadens my view, ultimately making life richer and unveiling new possibilities.

WNSF: You’re a judge for this year’s Prize - what excites you most about the role?

Francesca: I’m thrilled to be able to play a part in shining a light on some outstanding novels – but I’m particularly excited to hopefully be able to expand our understanding of what ‘adventure writing’ can be. The prize’s slogan is ‘an adventure for everyone’ – I interpret that as widening the doors of what can be seen as adventure writing, and ushering in a broader understanding of what the genre can encompass, and who it can be for.

Keme: It's a real honour to be invited to think really deeply about a fellow creator's creativity. I have been a judge on the adventure film circuit for many years and it's really a privilege to play a role in honouring other people's work; also to get the chance to have an overview of what people are writing and creating at this moment in time, when storytelling is coming under pressure from various political factions. I don't think adventure is immune from that and I'm flattered to be involved. On a very personal note I am an astonishingly slow reader, and I have to do to a lot of news/current affairs reading to keep up with the day job. Being on this panel has given me the kick up the proverbial backside I need to carve out time to read for pleasure!

Corinne: For me, it’s the introduction to books that I wouldn’t necessarily find time to read otherwise. It’s an adventure in itself exploring different genres.

Nathan: Starting a new and exciting adventure from the comfort of my home with the opening of each unexplored book and discovering the works of some amazingly gifted authors. 

WNSF: What are you hoping to find on this year's shortlist?

Keme: To be spirited away.

Nathan: A book that grips my attention, ignites my imagination, and temporarily transports me to any amazing and different world.

Francesca: Books that take me out of my own world and into fresh adventures – books with high stakes, and compelling characters. But I also want to find books where the writing itself is part of the adventure, and the risks are in the language as well as in the plot – I’m as likely to be blown away by an unexpected metaphor, a vividly-realised narrative voice, or a daring structural leap, as I am by an action scene.

Corinne: Characters and adventures that captivate me and make me want to keep turning the page.

If you're interested in finding out more about the judges, you can read a full interview with each of them here.