‘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… Continue reading…
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… Continue reading…
‘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… Continue reading…
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… Continue reading…
Madeleine Milburn is the Director of Madeleine Milburn Ltd and an Agent. She has appeared on the committee of the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) and has appeared on The Bookseller’s list of the 150 most influential people in the book trade every year since 2017. Since founding the agency in 2012, Madeleine was awarded Literary Agent… Continue reading…
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… Continue reading…
The launch party for The Bewitching took place on a balmy July evening at Carmelite House. Jill Dawson welcomed many of her friends and colleagues to the event. Please click on the thumbnails to enlarge photos. ‘An important novel which gave me fresh insight into the wicked mechanism of misogyny. The truth and sadness of… Continue reading…
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… Continue reading…
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… Continue reading…
Well, it’s been a funny few months….but we’re back, and thrilled to recommend to you a new agent, highlighted for December. Agent Emma Paterson, at Aitken Alexander. Emma joined the agency in 2018 and was selected as a Bookseller Rising Star. She is a member of the Booker Prize Foundation Advisory Committee and was made a Director of… Continue reading…
