The GLL Literary Foundation is an organisation, operated by charitable Social Enterprise GLL, that has been established to support authors to continue to write, share stories, and inspire young readers.
Having worked with a number of authors over our 12 years of managing public libraries, GLL have learnt that the path to becoming an established author does not end when the first book is published, and achieving the levels of success required to sustain a full-time literary career is not guaranteed. Being a children's author is more than writing; it requires authors to be able to deliver public events, engage with young readers, and inspire them. On top of this, they must become business owners, understand their brand, and learn to market themselves. This can be a daunting prospect for authors at the beginning of their career.
Becoming an author is competitive, and promotional budgets vary. Through our work in libraries, GLL is aware of the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the reading material provided for children and young people. We understand that representation is important and that reading levels improve when children can see themselves in the books they read. We also know that engagement with reading increases upon being able to meet and engage with authors.
Becoming an author is competitive, and promotional budgets vary. Through our work in libraries, GLL is aware of the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the reading material provided for children and young people. We understand that representation is important and that reading levels improve when children can see themselves in the books they read. We also know that engagement with reading increases upon being able to meet and engage with authors.
As the largest public library operator in the UK, GLL recognises that we are uniquely positioned to support the success of early-career authors by bridging the gap in author training and experience in the areas where we deliver public library services. In 2024 the GLL Literary Foundation was founded to combine the knowledge, expertise, and support of our team of librarians, event managers, our Start Up Programme, and our 100+ libraries.
We exist to:
- support local authors to develop the skills and knowledge that will allow them to reach their full potential,
- encourage greater promotion of diverse and inclusive texts,
- provide children and young people with the opportunity to be inspired to read and write by seeing local authors succeed,
- support publishers of all sizes to promote authors,
- connect local authors and publishers to the libraries at the heart of their communities.
Our Patron, Joseph Coelho OBE, FRSL, Hon FCLIP
“Becoming established as a children’s author is extremely challenging, it takes so much more than just writing a fantastic book. This new Foundation will help authors promote their work and provide essential training and ongoing support. Libraries are very close to my heart and have played an important role in my journey as an author. I’m therefore delighted to support the GLL Literary Foundation.”
We’re honoured to introduce Joseph Coelho, award-winning performance poet, playwright, children's author, and 2022-2024 Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, as the GLL Literary Foundation’s Patron.
Joseph grew up in Roehampton, and his first job was as a library assistant for Wandsworth Libraries. His work includes critically acclaimed picture books ‘Luna Loves Library Day’, and ‘If All the World Were’, poetry collections ‘Overheard in a Tower Block’ and 'Smile Out Loud’, and books for older readers ‘The Girl Who Became a Tree’ and ‘The Boy Lost in the Maze’. His work has been awarded the CLPE CLiPPA Poetry Award 2015 and the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award 2019, and has been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and UKLA Book Awards. In 2024 Joseph also won the Carnegie Medal for Writing.
Joseph’s work has poetry and performance at its heart, and aims to inspire young people through stories and characters they can recognise. Throughout his career he has highlighted the power of poetry and reading, championing and campaigning for local libraries and spotlights new voices and diversity throughout his work.
How can we support your author?
The GLL Literary Foundation will award 20 author placements to select authors that meet the eligibility criteria and who reside in the areas where we operate public libraries: Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth, Dudley, and Lincolnshire.
These placements will offer:
- A bursary of £750.
- Support and guidance from a local librarian mentor.
- Networking opportunities with local booksellers, publishers, literary festivals, schools and the local community.
- Support, guidance, and a toolkit for developing and delivering author events, helping build their confidence when engaging with a range of audiences.
- Three author events to practice their learning hosted in their local libraries, one with local schools, one with the public, and one online.
- On-demand training sessions available for the duration of the programme with the libraries Start Up team covering Brand Identity, Marketing and Business Planning.
- Access to library business lounges, so that they can work in a supportive environment.
- Attendance at two annual events to bring all of the authors together with national and sector partners, proving opportunities to network with sponsors of the programme and the Foundation.
The GLL Literary Foundation will also offer an unlimited number of author placements to authors who meet the eligibility criteria and who reside in the areas where we operate public libraries, but who are not selected for one of the 20 bursary supported placements.
These placements will offer:
- On-demand training events accessible online at any time for the duration of the programme including:
- A webinar with a Librarian Mentor on delivering successful author events.
- Brand Identity.
- Marketing.
- Business Planning. - An invitation to a sector networking event.
- Access to work from Business Library spaces.
Nomination process
All author placements awarded by the GLL Literary Foundation are a celebration of an authors work in their career so far, and recognition that with further support we believe they can reach their full potential.
Nominations for these placements are a crucial step in the process and understanding how they work is essential for both authors and their supporters. The guide below covers the nomination process and clarifies who can nominate and be nominated.
Nominations for these placements are a crucial step in the process and understanding how they work is essential for both authors and their supporters. The guide below covers the nomination process and clarifies who can nominate and be nominated.
Timeline
15th November
Nominations open at 9am
10th January
Nominations close at 5pm.
13th January
Local Champions
shortlist authors by area.
shortlist authors by area.
Late January 2025
Board of trustees select successful authors
February 2025
Placement awards are announced.
Nomination Guidance
Nominators
Nominations for the GLL Literary Foundation must come from the author's publishing representative. The author's work must be traditionally published, no self-published writers will be accepted, so the publishing representative must be employed by a UK publishing house. The GLL Literary Foundation aims to support publishers of all sizes to promote their authors, so the publishing house can be part of a conglomerate or independent.
Nominators should consult the eligibility criteria below before making their nomination and familiarise themselves with the GLL Literary Foundation's objectives.
As the publishing representative your role will be as liaison between the Foundation and the publishing industry. You will be called upon to ensure that title availability can be guaranteed for the duration of the programme, that titles are available through our suppliers, that rights are released to allow the foundation to promote your author's work, and you will act as the main contact for negotiations.
Due to the need to have direct access to so many departments within the publishing house, at this time literary agents are not eligible to act as nominees. However, we encourage agents to act as a champion and encourage publishers to nominate their eligible authors for support.
Nominators should consult the eligibility criteria below before making their nomination and familiarise themselves with the GLL Literary Foundation's objectives.
As the publishing representative your role will be as liaison between the Foundation and the publishing industry. You will be called upon to ensure that title availability can be guaranteed for the duration of the programme, that titles are available through our suppliers, that rights are released to allow the foundation to promote your author's work, and you will act as the main contact for negotiations.
Due to the need to have direct access to so many departments within the publishing house, at this time literary agents are not eligible to act as nominees. However, we encourage agents to act as a champion and encourage publishers to nominate their eligible authors for support.
Eligibility criteria
Before nominating an author, it is essential to ensure that the author you wish to nominate meets the eligibility criteria set by the GLL Literary Foundation. Please refer to the criteria below
- Authors must live, work or study in the areas in which we operate public libraries:
- Bromley
- Greenwich
- Wandsworth
- Dudley
- Lincolnshire - We are looking for submissions for authors across all genres of children’s literature; picture books, early readers, chapter books, poetry, non-fiction, novels, graphic and verse novels.
- We are looking for children’s authors who have published between 1 and 3 books in the last five years (not before 10th January 2020). The books must be available in hardback or paperback by January 2025 at the latest.
- The authors books must be traditionally published in the UK, and have an ISBN. Self-published books are not eligible.
- The author's publisher(s) must be able to guarantee that books will be available to purchase for the duration of the programme until January 2026.
- The author's publisher(s) must agree that if their author is successful, any images supplied of the author or their books, any recordings of any GLL events the author attends, and any excerpts of the authors work that may be read at these events, may be used for the purposes of promotion of the author and their books by GLL on behalf of the GLL Literary Foundation.
Being nominated
If you're an author who would like to be supported by the GLL Literary Foundation, here are some tips to increase your chances:
- Advocate for yourself - we encourage you to act as your own champion with your agent and publisher. Ensure you understand the commitments involved with the programme, for both yourself and your publisher, as well as the benefits and use this to appeal to them.
- Produce inclusive work - One of the GLL Literary Foundation's aims is to encourage greater promotion of diverse and inclusive texts, we want young readers to feel represented in the books available to them.
- Produce inspiring work - The GLL Literary Foundation aims to not only support authors, but also to provide children and young people with the opportunity to be inspired to write themselves.
- Engage in your local community - Our libraries are the home of the GLL Literary Foundation and are the heart of their local communities. If selected you will be delivering most of your author events locally, so it is important to engage with the local community.
Selection criteria
The GLL Literary Foundation will assess nominations on the quality of the author's writing, and the strength of the author's relationship to their identified local area.
Diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. The GLL Literary Foundation therefore particularly encourages applications from authors who are likely to be underrepresented.
Diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. The GLL Literary Foundation therefore particularly encourages applications from authors who are likely to be underrepresented.
Filling out the form
All the questions on the nomination form need to be completed for your nomination to be considered. Inaccurate nominations will not be accepted.
All answer spaces marked with an asterisk * on the nomination form should be filled. If the question is not applicable please enter ‘N/A’ in the space. Do not miss out on support because your nomination form appears inaccurate.
On submission of the nomination form, the publisher's representative will receive a confirmation email sent to the address supplied. If you do not receive confirmation please contact literaryfoundation@gll.org who will check the status of your nomination to confirm your submission.
All answer spaces marked with an asterisk * on the nomination form should be filled. If the question is not applicable please enter ‘N/A’ in the space. Do not miss out on support because your nomination form appears inaccurate.
On submission of the nomination form, the publisher's representative will receive a confirmation email sent to the address supplied. If you do not receive confirmation please contact literaryfoundation@gll.org who will check the status of your nomination to confirm your submission.
If you have any questions we've not answered above, get in touch for further assistance
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