‘When I sent the first pages of my first novel to Jill back in 2016, I remember feeling tremendously nervous. Sharing something as personal as that with someone else – an accomplished writer who’d written such gorgeous novels herself! – is daunting. Eight years later, however, I am absolutely sure that I could not have found a better mentor.
‘Jill’s … read more...
Here’s what recently published author Kathleen Whyman has to say about her mentoring experience with Gold Dust:
'I can’t thank Jill Dawson enough and urge anyone in two minds about using Gold Dust to do it. You won’t regret it. 'Jill worked with me on my debut novel, Wife Support System, which has now been published with Hera Books. I… read more...
… read more...'Jill taught me to nurture creativity, practice commitment, and above all, to have confidence and to persevere. From my first joyous dip into the writing waters to the cathartic experience of writing Shanghai Immortal during lock down, to now hitting #1 on the Sunday Times Bestseller list, these foundational lessons in writing life have had a lasting positive impact on
Matilda Leyser writes:
‘No Season but the Summer took twelve years to write, from its conception to publication. That’s the same age as my son. The ideas in the book and the boy began together. But the ideas would never have grown beyond their infancy were in not for the mentorship I received from Sally Cline, through Gold Dust. I … read more...
Sally-Anne grew up near Sheffield, in the north of England. She has worked as a writer, film and television extra and formerly as an auxiliary nurse, including a spell working in one of the last Victorian asylums in England. Sally-Anne was accepted as a Gold Dust mentee in 2019, and is effusive about the guidance she received from Sarah May: … read more...
Gold Dust is delighted to announce that one of our recent mentees, Carmel Boyhan Irvine, mentored by Shelley Weiner, has won the Grazia First Chapter Award, celebrated recently at the party for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. We extend our warmest congratulations to her for this prestigious and hotly contested win.
Carmel, a twin, a doctor and a medical educator, … read more...
We at Gold Dust offer our congratulations to Vanessa Nicolson on the publication of her novel, Angels of Mud, to be published on 26th August by Harbour books. Vanessa says of her mentor, Shelley Weiner: ‘Shelley Weiner’s ongoing support kept me focussed and on track, enabling me to complete a draft of my (soon to be published) first novel. … read more...
‘In Shelley I have found a personal trainer for my brain. She challenges me to use mental muscles that have been dormant for too long and perhaps ones that I’d be too lazy to use on my own in my writing.’ – Aliya Ali-Afzal
Would I lie to You (published in September 2021) is about Faiza, a Wimbledon yummy mummy … read more...
Another writer mentored by Jill Dawson has just announced a book deal. Nada Holland will publish her first novel, Motherborn, with Lendal Press, in February 2021. Lendal Press is a brand new independent publisher; the editor is Paige Henderson. Nada was mentored by Jill Dawson for Gold Dust mentoring several years ago but wrote to tell us the news, … read more...
We are very pleased to be able to announce that Sophie Forsyth has won FIRST prize in the Yeovil Literary Prize first novel section. Sophie’s novel, The Collector of Curiosities was chosen from over 500 entries to take the first prize. The judge, Paul Blezard, described it as ‘beautifully crafted, elegantly written and with a nuanced balance between history and
