#MeToo-themed novel wins inaugural reader-led award worth £50,000
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- Donna Fisher wins the inaugural Libraro prize for her unpublished novel Sheep’s Clothing, selected from a shortlist of six out of more than 2,000 submissions.
- Libraro prize provides £30,000 in cash, £20,000 marketing support, and a potential Hachette UK book deal.
- Libraro platform lets readers shortlist manuscripts, with the final decision made by a panel including authors Joanne Harris and Elly Griffiths, LoveReading CEO Deborah Maclaren, and blogger Zubs J Malik.
- Sheep’s Clothing tackles post‑#MeToo cancel culture, following singer Harriet as she confronts a bestselling author accused of sexual assault.
- Holly Hughes received the £10,000 Libraro reader engagement prize for reading and commenting on submissions.
Why it matters: Donna Fisher gains a £30k cash boost, marketing, and a Hachette deal, while the Libraro platform proves its ability to launch unpublished writers via reader‑driven selection, reshaping the publishing pipeline.
