Author Sophie Neville wins a third international literary prize

Sophie Neville has been awarded A Womans' Write 2019 Grand Prize for the Best Unpublished Novel. Standards are high in this American-based international literary competition which you can read about here.

Sophie has also just won the 2019 Eyelands Book Awards prize for an unpublished historical novel under the title 'The Man Who Got Out of Japan'. The same wartime story won the Athanatos Christian Ministeries writing contest Grand Prize of U$2,500 in 2017.

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Author Sophie Neville profiled in Country Life magazine

Country Life has become one of the icons of the United Kingdom. A weekly magazine and showcase for the most sort after houses in the realm, it takes pride in our rich literary heritage. This year, VisitEngland are celebrating the life of Arthur Ransome who died 50 years ago, leaving us a legacy of inspirational books about fishing, sailing and exploring the great outdoors.

Feature writer Octavia Pollock returned from San Francisco longing to sail in British waters. She was intrigued to hear that I was a member of the Nancy Blackett Trust and that it was possible to grab a chance to enjoy a weekend aboard Arthur Ransome's favourite little yacht, a 28 foot cutter that he bought with 'Spainish gold' - which is what he called publisher's royalties from his Swallows and Amazons series of books.  

'Funnily Enough' chronicles the time that I spent making the classic movie of 'Swallows and Amazons' back in 1973. Octavia enjoyed the book on 'The Making of Swallows and Amazons' and relished the fact that you can sail Swallow, the dinghy that starred in the film.

Although first released in cinemas in 1974, the British movie was broadcast in Australia on 9th July this year and can be purchased on DVD or Blu-ray to take you sailing back into memories of you youth.