Friday, June 30th, 2006

HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 2006 WINNER ANNOUNCED

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is an annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the prestigious Branford Boase Award for debut children’s fiction. Six lucky winners have been chosen from a record number of entries this year – 788 in total – by Kate Jones, Director of Young Writer magazine. The entrants had to complete a story, using an opening paragraph written by Meg Rosoff, who won the Branford Boase Award last year for her debut children’s novel, How I Live Now. The prize includes a trip to London to meet the Children’s Laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, who will present the winners with their prizes at the Branford Boase Award Ceremony in London on the 29th June. Also included in the prize is an opportunity to spend a day in a major publishing company, and a set of all the books on the Branford Book Award shortlist.

The full list of winners is:

• James Falgate from Leeds     Age 12
• Becci Fearnley from Farnborough     Age 16
• Kane Kushner from St Albans     Age 12
• Ciara O’Neil from Porchester     Age 7
• Ramona Pulsford from London    Age 7
• Rebecca Walters from Middlesbrough     Age 11

Further information on the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition and the Branford Boase Award can be found on www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk

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Publicity pictures and available on request. Please contact Mary Byrne on 0207 729 6359 or 07971 378 411 or email: mary.byrne@virgin.net or Anne Marley on 01962 826658 or 07931 733382 or email: anne.marley@tiscali.co.uk. Website: www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk