Announcing the Cheshire Novel Prize 2025 Shortlist

Hello,

We are delighted to announce our shortlist 2025. This was such a closely run race and so congratulations to all of our long-listed writers who were in the running.

So here it is,  our 2025 shortlist:

1. Anatomy of a Killing - Psychological Suspense
2. By Their Rules - Psychological Suspense
3. My Dark Bowered Queen - Dark Academia
4. Blood Floral - Crime/Thriller
5. The Thin Places - Fantasy
6. The Checkout Girl - Commercial Fiction (withdrawn)
7. Salt, Water and Air - Literary Fiction

Congratulations to all of our shortlisted writers. Our winner and highly commended  will be announced on the 3rd of November 2025 at 2PM UK time

Feedback will go out from the 1st of November 2025 until the 1st of January 2026. We opened three months later this year – in May rather than January and this is the reason why the timelines for the feedback are different to other years.

Thanks to everyone who entered our competition this year. We will be back soon with our winner announcement and some craft tips and hints. We also have some exciting three hour workshops planned for November and December and so watch this space. And remember, we will be offering free resources in 2026!

 Happy writing!

 Kind regards

 Sara