For funny published, unpublished and self-published novels

The longlists have been announced for this year’s Comedy Women in Print Prize, with categories for witty published, unpublished and self-published books

The awards launched by comedian Helen Lederer in 2019 by  comedian Helen Lederer. She said of this year’s books: ‘We have had more entries than ever. W have established a witty writing platform community, and we receive support from the most wonderful people and places – this has to mean something in a world where wit and shared values are so precious and necessary.’

The winner of the unpublished category will be published by Hera Books.

Founder Keshini Naidoo said: ‘In a world in which we are beset by dark news on a daily basis we need levity more than ever – and that’s why CWIP’s mission is not only admirable but deeply important, and we are honoured to be uniting with them to bring the winner of the unpublished prize to the market.’

These titles will be whittled down to a shortlist, announced on September 17 with the winner announced on November 3.

Other honorary awards will also be announced. Lederer is pictured above with previous winners of such accolades, Sharon Horgan and Meera Syal.

The longlists are:

Published novel 

Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

Beautyland by Marie Helen Bertino (Vintage)

The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Phoenix)

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (Chatto & Windus))

Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey (Fourth Estate)

Mixed by Tama Hodes (Legend Press)

My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes (Penguin Michael Joseph)

The Revenge Club by Kathy Lette (Aria)

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay (Wildfire)

Wife by Charlotte Mendelson (Mantle)

Weirdo by Sara Pascoe (Faber & Faber)

Don’t Make Me Laugh by Julia Raeside (Bedford Square Publishers)

Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (Sceptre)

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One by Kristen Arnett (Corsair)

Prize: £3,000 from the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society

Judges: Chizzy Akudolu; TV fashionista Susannah Constantine, stand-up  Kerry Godliman; writer Chris Manby; actor, Ingrid Oliver; and presenter Ranvir Singh.

Unpublished novel

Music for the Samosa Generation by Natalie Willbe

On Wednesdays We Wear Black by Ceri Gould Thomas

The Way of Nellie May by Rachel Sambrooks

The Secrets of a Honey Trapper by Ali Grugeon

When Death is the Day Job by Deborah Rayner

Checking Out by Raedin O'Connor

Everything She Wants by Hannah Verdier

Generation Ex by Dara Lutes

Phantam by Dara Annie Rosen

Jailbirds and Seaside Pigeons by Jenny Howard

Some News by Jeananne Craig

The Accidental Agony Aunt by Caroline Davies

Prize: To be published by Hera Books. Runners-up win the offer of a place on the online MA in comedy writing at Falmouth University or a writing mentorship, or a place on an MA  in research in creative writing from the University of Hertfordshire, or a platinum design and editing service from Fuzzy Flamingo

 Judges: Dawn Butler MP; former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis; arts journalist Liz Hoggard; writer and theatre-maker Malaika Kegode; Hera Books publisher Keshini Naidoo; and historical novelist Jennifer Young. 

Self-Published Novel

A Perfect Year by Ruth Foster

Butterflies by Michelle Smart

Finding Monsieur Right by Chloe Rayban

Game of Trust by Yvonne Vincent

It Started With a Shoe by Sarah Scally

Crime & Prejudice by Julia Miller

Mapton Roars! by Sam Maxfield

Octopus by Pony Louder

The Postcard in the Window by Sarah Scally

The Stand-Up Mam by Kay Wilson

The Other Side of Yes by Kerrie Noor

Whatever You Want by Lesley Bown

Prize: A package from ‘hybrid’ book publisher Atmosphere Press, a model that charges authors to handle the production and distribution of books but allows them to retain a higher percentage of royalties than a traditional publisher. 

Judges: Actor and comedian Llewella Gideon; Alison Hume MP; actor Lesley Joseph; book reviewer Deborah Maclaren; novelist Silvia Saunders, whose debut, Homesick, won the CWIP unpublished award in 2023.

Published: 16 Jul 2025