In May 2022, Guppy Books opened its portholes for unpublished and unagented young adult writers – and we had an amazing response! With around 220 entries, it was exhilarating to see the talent and creativity demonstrated. We have managed, with difficulty, to whittle down the entries to a longlist of 24, as listed below.

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for sending in your entry for Guppy’s open submission window. I was so impressed with the standard of writing, the original ideas and the incredible energy that went into all the submissions. It was a hard task to choose the longlist, and it’ll be harder still to choose the shortlist. I’d also like to say thank you to six graduates of Oxford Brookes who provided some invaluable help.

Huge congratulations to those who made the longlist! You will hear more about the next stages individually by email.

For those who didn’t make it: during my career, I have said no to SO many books that have gone on to do great things; so if you don’t find yourself on this list I hope you don’t feel too disappointed. It was a pleasure to read all the submissions; the standard of writing this year was particularly high, and I was really impressed with the level and commitment to writing for young adults. If you didn’t get through, please take heart – there were so many that very nearly did and it was a tough choice.

Thank you again for your participation.

With all best wishes

Bella Pearson

Publisher
Guppy Books

GUPPY OPEN SUBMISSION LONGLIST 2022

In no particular order:

Sorrel Shamel-Wood OFF TRACK

Aerin Apeltun TWELVE COFFINS, SEVEN LILIES

Hazel Compton THE DROWNING TOWN

Charlotte Teeple-Salas CHIMERA MOON

Jo Baker CITY OF DARK INK

Sammy Chen AND ALL SIMILAR THINGS

J L Bleakley EVERMIST

A D Stuart FIRST LOVE CAN BE MURDER

Lou Renn CLICK

Rebecca Perkin HALF UNDONE

Catharine Johnson SACRIFICE

Jonathan Sellars THINGS HARRY OLIVER KNOWS

Ellen Haggan THE WATCHERS

Bibi Anisah Mohamoodally NO ORDINARY GIRL

Olivia Collard NOT WITH A BANG

Tasmia Tahia UP, RISING

Mel Green Controllers

Julie Farrell We are Fractals

Hannah Ekekwe Gum

Monique Turner The Island of Influencers

Jo Howard Legal Walls

Andrea Hutchinson One in Fire

Charlotte Comley, Pooka