Debut novelist pledges support for independent bookshops

The 2009 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize winning author Evie Wyld has today been announced as Booktrust's third online writer in residence. The 29-year-old won the prestigious prize with her debut novel set in Australia, After the Fire, A Still Small Voice, which has since been shortlisted for the 2010 Authors Club First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize.

Wyld, who has dual Australian and English nationality, currently lives in South London where she works as a bookseller at the Peckham independent bookshop Review. Through her residency she plans to celebrate the individual charm of the independent bookshop at a time when it is reported that as many as two are closing a week. Her residency will peak in September with a special interactive book club event held in independent bookshops across the UK.

Evie Wyld commented, 'Being made Booktrust's online writer in residence is a real honour. I see it as a chance to lift the veil a little on the creative process at the same time as promoting creative writing, books and independent bookshops. It's also a chance to really think about what it means to be a writer, which, as I'm only working on my second novel, will be something I'll be learning as I go along.'

During her time in the post, Evie will contribute one new short story to be published on the Booktrust website, a weekly blog, a video interview with her favourite author, writing tips and advice on getting published, as well as hosting a special interactive Skype book club meeting.