The bestselling author Neil Gaiman will be one of the judges of this year’s Dundee International Book Prize.
He will be joined by broadcaster Kirsty Lang, writer and critic Stuart Kelly, publisher Scott Pack and literary agent Felicity Blunt.
They will have the job of selecting a winner from the hundreds of entries expected from all over the world competing for a publishing contract and £10,000, the biggest cash award for an unpublished piece of work in the UK.
Anna Day, director of Literary Dundee, said: “The judging panel is testament to the status of the prize and the recognition by leading literary figures of the importance of hearing new voices.
“The breadth of experience on the panel is breathtaking and I can’t wait to see which of the entries they pick as the winner.”
The contest, now in its 10th year, is a joint venture by Literary Dundee and the Dundee One City, Many Discoveries campaign.
Gaiman made his name writing graphic novels, including the Sandman series and he has gone on to become a leading author in the fantasy and science fiction genres.
He has also enjoyed success as a screenwriter, penning two episodes of Doctor Who and his fantasy novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane was voted book of the year in December by the public from a shortlist of National Book Award winners.
Kirsty Lang is a regular presenter of nightly arts and culture programme Front Row on Radio 4 and Stuart Kelly was a judge for last year’s Man Booker Prize and programmer for Aye Write, Glasgow’s book festival.
The closing date for entries for the Dundee International Book Prize is March 4 and the winner will be launched in the autumn during the Dundee Literary Festival.
Will Dawson, city development convener, said: “The judging panel for this year’s book prize is one of the strongest I have seen, peppered as it is with household names.
“I am delighted to see such a high-calibre panel.”