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成人论坛 Worldwide Press Releases

On hearing the news on her birthday a delighted Susie said: "This is the most brilliant birthday present ever! I am still in shock and I don聮t think it has really sunk in yet. I worked really hard on my book, but had tried not to get my hopes up too much as I knew the other five finalists聮 books were also very good. I聮ve dreamed of becoming a children聮s author for many years and now I聮m looking forward to the future and can聮t wait to see the book when it is published."

The scheme was developed by 成人论坛 Talent and 成人论坛 Worldwide children聮s publishing to find a new talent in children聮s writing for 7 to 11 year olds. Applicants were asked by 成人论坛 Talent to send the first chapter of their novel, together with character profiles and a plot outline.

Selected from over 4,500 entries to the scheme, Susie was chosen as one of six finalists last October and received 拢2,000 from 成人论坛 Worldwide to finish writing her book by January this year.

The six books were judged by a panel including highly acclaimed children聮s author Jacqueline Wilson; Caroline Raphael (Commissioning Editor, Radio 4); Elaine Sperber (Executive Producer, 成人论坛 Children聮s Drama); Lizo Mzimba (C成人论坛 presenter); and Siobhan Williamson (成人论坛 Worldwide).

Jacqueline Wilson said: "It was exciting and enjoyable being part of the judging team, and I am thrilled we found such an original and impressive winner."

The Manhole is a fantasy adventure story about a little boy called Bill who finds that falling down is about the only thing that he is good at. But when he falls down a manhole 300 miles deep one Tuesday afternoon, he faces more than a torn trouser leg and a telling off from his mum. Accompanied by a scruffy princess, a pompous alien, a perpetually happy "elph" from the greenlands and an antelope, Bill (and his enormously long and stripy scarf) embark on a great adventure.

Sue Tarsky, Publisher, Children聮s Books, 成人论坛 Worldwide said: "I am very excited to be publishing The Manhole. I think that we聮ve discovered not just a great book, but a whole new voice in children聮s publishing. There is so much talent out there, and I feel privileged to have discovered some of it during the scheme. Not only are we publishing The Manhole, but two of the other finalists聮 books are also under consideration for publication."

Angie Stephenson, Head of 成人论坛 Talent, added: "We were really delighted with the calibre of entries that we received. The Children聮s Fiction Prize scheme was a new venture with 成人论坛 Worldwide and 成人论坛 Radio 4 which proved extremely popular. I am thrilled that Susie has been given such a fantastic opportunity."

Notes to Editors
成人论坛 Talent was launched in 2000 as part of the 成人论坛聮s continued long-term commitment to find and nurture the nation聮s new talent.

成人论坛 Talent launch the third year of their campaign on Thursday 7 March, offering people the opportunity to get their first break in the business. This year the search is on for talented individuals across 16 key areas.

成人论坛 Worldwide聮s sales from children聮s brands and properties reached 拢90 million in the financial year 2000-2001.

The 成人论坛 generates supplementary income to support its domestic services by marketing its programme-related products and services through its main commercial arm, 成人论坛 Worldwide. No licence fee money is used in developing these activities, and strict fair-trading regulations apply between the public service and commercial arms of the 成人论坛.

成人论坛 Worldwide is:
路 The UK聮s biggest seller of children聮s media-based products
路 The world聮s biggest tv channel operator based outside the US
路 Europe聮s biggest exporter of television programming
路 The UK聮s third largest publisher of consumer magazines
路 The UK聮s leading spoken word audio publishers
路 The UK聮s leading non-film DVD distributor
路 One of the UK聮s leading non-fiction book publisher

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