International Rubery Book Award


The Rubery International Book Award is the largest cash award for books published by independent publishers and self published authors in Great Britain. The London Review of Books described it as "independent publishing's response to the Booktrust and the Orange Prize. The Alliance of Independent Authors describes the award as: 'holders of the respected Rubery Award should be considered to have a quality endorsement.'
In 2012, the award attracted submissions from five continents. In 2015 entries were received from twenty countries: Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and USA.

Judges

Current and prior judges include Booker shortlisted author Clare Morrall; publisher of Tindal Street Press Alan Mahar; judge for the international Arthur C. Clarke Award Pauline Morgan; American literature and Creative Writing lecturer, Paul McDonald; Poet and Stand winner Jeff Phelps, Gaynor Arnold who was longlisted for the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize ; short story writer and novelist, Judith Allnatt; children's authors, Ann Evans and Simon Cheshire; creative writing teacher and previously Birmingham's Poet Laureate, Chris Morgan; William Gallagher, author, dramatist, and lecturer who writes Doctor Who audio dramas, stage plays, and has British journalism experience; and literary agent Laura Longrigg.

Successes

Winners

YearAuthorTitleCategory
2011Sarah JamesInto the YellPoetry
2011Lindsay Stanberry–FlynnUnravellingFiction
2011 WinnerChristine DonovanJump Derry,Fiction
2012Carol Mead and Gareth DaviesSea ThingsChildren's Poetry
2012Ann Victoria RobertsThe Master's TaleFiction
2012 WinnerDaniela MurphyThe RestorerFiction
2013Sophie NevilleFunnily EnoughNon-Fiction
2013T. D. GriggsRedemption BluesFiction
2013 WinnerJacob M. AppelThe Man Who Wouldn't Stand UpFiction
2014Peter ReasonSpindriftNon-Fiction
2014JoeAnn HartFloatFiction
2014 WinnerVictor TapnerFlatlandsPoetry
2015Diana KimptonThe Green SheepChildren's
2015Jo RiccionThe Italians at Cleat's Corner StoreFiction
2015Sasha HardingA Brush with the CoastNon Fiction
2015Diana WhitneyWanting ItPoetry
Book of the Year 2015Angela ReadmanDon't Try this at HomeShort Stories
2016Lisa WoollettSea JournalNon Fiction
2016Annie DawidYork FerryFiction
2016Emma Purshouse and Catherine Pascall MooreI Once Knew a Poem Who Wore a HatChildren's Poetry
Book of the Year 2016Laura TisdallEchoesYA
2017Lena Adishian and Nareg SeferianImpact of an Ancient NationNon Fiction
2017Melanie WhipmanLlama SutraShort stories
2017Debbie WiseRosie and RufusChildren's
2017John ToomeySlippingFiction
Book of the Year 2017Jaq HazellMy Life as a BenchYA
2018Keith ChandlerThe Goldsmith's ApprenticePoetry
2018Jenny Morris; illustrated by Sara HayatThe Thing on Mount SpringIllustrated Children's
2018R. K. SaltersButterfly RanchFiction
2018Wendy StorerBring Me SunshineYA
Book of the Year 2018David P MiraldiThe Edge of InnocenceNon Fiction
2019Jacob M AppelAmazing Thins are Happening HereShort Stories
2019Chad Alan GibbsTwo Like Me and YouYA
2019Oz HardwickLearning to Have LostPoetry
2019Lisa Anne Novelline; Nicola HwangPiccadilly and the Jolly RaindropsChildren's
Book of the Year 2019Claire Chao and Isabel Sun ChaoRemembering ShanghaiNon Fiction

Short Story Winners

  • Sarah Evans "The Tipping Point"
  • Melanie Whipman "Peacock Girl"
  • Gill Blow "On the Bench"
  • Gregory J Wolos "Still Life"