Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize | Terms & Conditions
In these Terms & Conditions: ‘Foundation’ means The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation; ‘Award’ means the £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize; ‘Work’ means the book (or books) being entered for the Award; ‘Publisher’ means the publisher of the Work in the United Kingdom; and ‘Author’ means the author of the Work.
By submitting a Work for entry to the Award the Publisher and Author accept and agree with these Terms & Conditions:
1. THE PRIZE
a) The prize for the Award is £10,000. The Award recognises the best in adventure writing. The Foundation defines ‘adventure writing’ here.
b) The longlist of twelve (12) Works will be announced on Thursday 30th April 2026.
c) The shortlist of six (6) Works will be announced on Thursday 28th May 2026.
d) The winning Work will be announced at the Foundation’s Prize Reception in London, UK, on Thursday 17th September 2026.
e) The Award will be given to the Author who, in the opinion of the Judges, has written the best full-length novel that is submitted and eligible for the Award.
2. ELIGIBILITY
a) The Award is open to Authors of any nationality writing in English.
b) Translations of books originally written in languages other than English are not eligible for the Award.
c) The Work must be first published in a paperback format in the UK by a recognised trade publisher between 1st May 2025 – 30th April 2026. Proof copies are accepted as long as the Work is then published within the timeframe. The Work may have been previously published in other formats including, for example, hardback or e-book.
d) The Work may be first published in any country.
e) The Work is eligible if it fulfils these Terms & Conditions despite being entered for the Award in a previous year. If the Work was previously longlisted or shortlisted, it is not eligible for re-entry.
f) In these Terms & Conditions, trade publisher means a publishing house which publishes a list of at least two fiction novels by different authors and with ISBNs every year, sells them in Pounds Sterling, and distributes its books in the United Kingdom through established retail and/or online outlets. For the avoidance of doubt, trade publisher does not include companies who publish titles via a commercial arrangement through which they are paid by the author. To comply with this rule, the Work needs to have a UK ISBN, have the price printed in Pounds Sterling and be distributed in the United Kingdom through established retail and/or online outlets.
g) Self-published books are not eligible for the Award. If the Publisher is a company which has been specifically set up by the Author to publish the Work, the Work is not eligible for the Award.
h) Entries must be submitted by a Publisher. The Author's literary agent may also enter their Work for the Award provided that they have the Author's and Publisher’s consent to do so (and that the Author and Publisher have agreed with these Terms & Conditions).
i) All Works must be unified, substantial works of fiction. Books of short stories will not be accepted.
j) The Award is for adult fiction. Young adult fiction is also eligible. Children's or middle-grade fiction will not be accepted.
k) Multiple Works by the same Author may be submitted.
3. ENTRY OF BOOKS
a) Entries must be submitted digitally, as a .pdf file. You may watermark the file. Please contact charlotte@wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org if you have any questions about file type.
b) The Publisher must ensure that the Author of the Work submitted for the Award gives their consent to entry and agrees to abide by the Terms and Conditions.
c) Publishers should complete an online entry form for each Work they are submitting, which is available via the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation website.
4. PUBLISHER’S OBLIGATIONS
a) The Publisher agrees that if a Work is longlisted or shortlisted for the Award or wins the Award, the Publisher will feature the roundel artwork on all subsequent editions or reprints of the Work published by the Publisher. The longlisting, shortlisting or win must be acknowledged in all online sales copy.
b) The Publisher agrees that if a Work is shortlisted:
- the Publisher will contribute £950 (plus VAT if applicable) towards the Foundation’s promotional activities connected with the Award and the Work. Example of the types of promotional activities carried out by the Foundation in connection with the Award are detailed in the document, ‘Be Part of the Prize.’ Payment of this contribution shall be made by the Publisher by bank transfer within thirty (30) days of the Publisher’s receipt of an invoice from the Foundation.
- the Publisher will provide thirty (30) printed copies of the Work to the Foundation for promotional and administrative purposes and agrees to sell reasonable numbers of additional copies to the Foundation at cost for promotional and outreach uses by the Foundation in connection with the Award (not for re-sale by the Foundation). These copies will not be returned to Publishers.
- the Publisher will provide copies of the Work in ebook and audiobook format (or codes providing free access) if requested by the Foundation, for use by the judging panel and selected reading groups alone.
- the Publisher will use best endeavours to ensure shortlisted authors attend and participate in opportunities (live and virtual), including Foundation’s Prize Reception in London, UK, where the winner is announced. Publishers will be responsible for covering any travel costs and relevant expenses for the authors.
c) For each Work entered for the Award:(i) The Publisher will provide the Foundation with a digital copy of the Work and an approved photo and biography of the Author for use by the Foundation in connection with the Award and the Foundation may freely use such materials (in the case of the Work, extracts thereof) in all formats and media in connection with the Award. The Publisher agrees to inform the Foundation of any copyright notices and credits to be used in connection with such uses; and (ii) the Publisher warrants and agrees that the Publisher has obtained all necessary permissions from the Author and any other applicable third parties for the Work to be entered into the Award and for extracts of the Work, and the Author's name, photo and biography to be freely used for promotional purposes in all formats and media in connection with the Award.
5. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION
a) The Foundation does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
b) Any queries relating to the Award should be emailed to charlotte@wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org.
6. GENERAL
a) The Foundation cannot accept any responsibility and shall not to the extent permitted by law be liable for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any Publisher or Author in respect of any Work submitted for the Award.
b) The Foundation will comply with relevant data protection legislation.
c) These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
d) The Foundation reserves the right:
- to not give the Award, where circumstances are beyond its control, or if the judges’ overall verdict is that the level of entries is not up to the required standard.
- to extend the judging process and/or announcement of the longlist, shortlist and/or winner should the number of entries exceed expectations.
- to disqualify any entry if the Foundation has reasonable grounds to believe that the entry does not comply with these Terms & Conditions or if the Publisher breaches these Terms & Conditions.
- to amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time where reasonably necessary or desirable to do so.
Please contact us if you have any questions.