Gemmell Awards Longlist – Voting Opens Today

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Today, Friday April 10th, sees voting open for the 7th Gemmell Awards, the longlist for which was announced today.

The aims of the awards, named after legendary fantasy writer David Gemmell, are  to raise public awareness of the Fantasy genre, to celebrate the history and cultural importance of Fantasy literature and to appreciate and reward excellence in the field.

The longlists for the Legend Award - for the best novel of fantasy fiction, the Morningstar Award - for the best fantasy debut novel, and the Ravenheart Award - for the year's best fantasy cover art - can all be seen on the newly designed website, launched for the occasion.

Awards Chair Stan Nicholls said: 'The new website is a key part of our plan for the awards going forward, and will allow us to really expand our online output. Add to this the longlist announcement and voting beginning and we have some really exciting times ahead for the Gemmell Awards – I can't wait to see what wonderful fantasy books the public have to choose from!'

The David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy began in 2009, with the aim of celebrating the best in fantasy fiction and commemorating the work of David Gemmell. Previous winners Andrezj Sapowski, Graham McNeill, Brandon Sanderson, Pierre Pevel, Patrick Rothfuss, Helen Lowe, Brent Weeks, John Gwynne, Brian McLellan and Mark Lawrence.

The longlists will be whittled down to a shortlist, whereupon voting will open again and fantasy fans and readers will have the chance to vote for their favourites again.

Voting on each of 2015’s longlists closes at midnight on Friday 15th May.

Voting on the shortlist opens on Monday 1st June and closes at midnight on Friday 17th July.

The presentation takes place at 8pm on Saturday 8th August at Nine Worlds Geekfest.

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About Donna Scott

Chair of the BSFA since June 2013. Prior to this I was Awards Administrator, taking over that role from Claire Briarley in 2008. I am officially Donna Bond since getting married in May 2013, but continue to write and perform under my previous name, Donna Scott. My short fiction stories have been published in various anthologies and magazines, and I was winner of the inaugural Short Cuts at the MAC in 2005. As a comedian, I have performed all over the UK. Comedy has also given me the opportunity to perform alongside big names like Sarah Millican and Jasper Carrott! As a poet, I've also performed all over the place, including lots of science fiction conventions, and sometimes my poetry and comedy get kind of mixed up. I was the first official Bard of Northampton, it's true. I've got a tankard that says so... I love being a part of the BSFA - I've always been a devourer of books and being part of this association has enabled me to explore some great science fiction classics - and classics of the future, that I might otherwise have not heard about. I've met some lovely people with an enthusiasm for the genre, made firm friends, and got to meet some of my favourite writers, too! As a writer, I also have to say that FOCUS is the best magazine for writers I've ever come across - and as a member I get that for free. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this?

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