Friday 15 September 2017 Budding author Julia Coyle, a Year 9 pupil at The Grammar School at Leeds, has notched up another writing award in a national competition sponsored by the Arts Council and Channel 4. The 13-year-old is the youngest person to win the Matthew Hale Award, part of the Northern Writers’ Awards 2017, which aims to inspire and nurture future authors, playwrights and film script writers. In addition to the £500 prize, the awards package includes mentoring with professional authors and opportunities to develop her writing skills, including producing monthly vlog book reviews. Julia will also attend various literary events as their ambassador. At the awards ceremony the judges said that Julia’s writing clearly stood out, stating: “She is obviously incredibly talented and her writing is ambitious and sophisticated – especially for her age”. Julia was recently runner-up in the Yorkshire Post’s creative writing competition and was described by author Gervase Phinn as ‘outstanding’. She was chosen by Sir Alan Ayckbourn to have her play produced and performed by his production company alongside work by other playwrights, including John Godber, and has also just signed a publishing contract in America following the performance of one of her short plays in New York. Julia is pictured receiving her award from Spike Hale, one of the judges. General Senior School News
