The Society of Women Writers and Journalists
ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS OF THE ELAINE EVEREST MEMORIAL COMPETITION 2026
We are thrilled to announce that the winner of the inaugural Elaine Everest Memorial Competition, for the opening chapter of an unpublished saga novel, is ANDREA DAVIES, who writes romantic fiction as Lily Watson.
Andrea’s entry, entitled ‘The Liverpool Library Girls’, opens in 1940 and introduces us to Grace as she reports for duty on her first day at a new job and finds there is much more involved than she expected! With hints of conflict, secret war work, family problems and romance, this extract has all the elements that draw readers in and make them want more.
Andrea says that she only entered to pay her respects to Elaine and never dreamt she would win. This is her first attempt at writing a saga, written especially for the competition, and the novel remains unfinished… for now!
Andrea is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and its New Writers Scheme, and lives in Stockport. Her opening chapter rose above 56 other entries to claim the £200 cash prize, kindly provided by Elaine’s agent, Caroline Sheldon. Andrea also wins a year’s free membership of the RNA, and will see her name engraved on our beautiful new ‘silver swans’ trophy, sponsored by Elaine’s widower Michael, which will be presented to her at our summer event on 12 June. Bookings are now open if you would like to attend.
In second place is SWWJ member KATIE CARR with ‘Harvest Home’, set in Warwickshire in 1943. Katie wins £100, sponsored by Elaine’s publishers, Pan Macmillan.
Third place goes to LISA FIRTH, writing as Betty Firth, with the first in a new Second World War series, provisionally entitled ‘Sweethearts of the Forces’. Lisa wins £50, also sponsored by Pan Macmillan.
The judges awarded Highly Commended status to a fourth entry, set in Hertfordshire in 1951: ‘A New Start at Paradise Fields’ by JILL STEEPLES.
Huge congratulations to all four writers, and our grateful thanks to our three judges, award-winning saga authors Jean Fullerton, Lizzie Lane and Francesca Capaldi, who all donated their time and expertise to read many thousands of words and choose our winners. It cannot have been an easy task.
130 Years of the SWWJ
We celebrated our 130th anniversary on 1st May 2024
When The Society of Women Writers and Journalists [SWWJ] was created on 1 May 1894 by newspaper and businessman Joseph Snell Wood, little did he or anyone else know at the time, that over a century later, the Society would be still promoting and supporting women writers.
Since that day, we continue to champion women writers and all writers, both here in the UK and across the world.
We have a wonderful membership of published writers, authors, journalists, poets, playwrights, editors and more. We also support and encourage aspiring writers just beginning their journey.
Writing is a solitary business, so the role of the writing community to help us all grow and flourish as writers, is important.
To mark our special milestone, we gathered together at the House of Lords in Westminster, 130 years to the day our Society began, for a special lunch and prizegiving – read all about it here.
Thank you to all our members, past and present for 130 years of words
Why not take a look through our history here on our website and if you are not already a member, see what we do and join us!
Our Mission
Our
History
Founded in 1894 by newspaper proprietor, Joseph Snell Wood, as the Society of Women Journalists, the Society has a rich and varied history.
