The Portico Prize, founded in 1985, is awarded biennially for a book published within the two closing dates (currently 31st August 2006 and 31st August 2008), of general interest and literary merit and from this year set wholly or mainly in the Northern counties of England. Previously books were required to be set in the North West of England only.

A Shadow Reading Group also reads a selection of the entries for discussion and review in the Library.

To link in to the Manchester Literature Festival this year short-listed Fiction authors will be invited to take part in a MLF event on 22nd October in Manchester Central Library (please check to confirm final details), whilst the Non-Fiction short-listed authors will be invited to take part in an event arranged by the Portico Library shortly afterwards in late October (date to be confirmed).

The complementary and lively panel of judges this year are Mike Harding, writer, photographer and musician amongst other attributes; Paul Magrs, award-winning young and adult fiction author and Senior Lecturer in creative writing; Libby Tempest, Cultural Services Manager for Manchester Libraries and Regional Manager for the National Year of Reading events.

The judges will announce an overall winner from one of the previously released Fiction and Non-Fiction shortlists and a runner-up from the remaining category. Each will be presented with a cheque for £5,000 and £3,000 respectively.

The Prizes will be presented at a prestigious dinner in the Great Hall of Manchester's splendid Town Hall on 13th November (tickets available now). This event is a highlight of the region's literary calendar with guest speakers and judges which have included Ludovic Kennedy, Dora Bryan, Bill Tidy, Alan Garner, Michael Schmidt, Tony Warren, Martin Bell and Kate Adie. This year's guest speaker is to be confirmed.

Past sponsors have included Granada, Manchester Evening News, The Royal Bank of Scotland and The Zochonis Charitable Trust. This year we are most grateful to the Zochonis Charitable Trust and Lane-Smith Shindler, Solicitors · Trust & Estate Practitioners for their generous sponsorship of the event and prize.

In conjuction with Lane-Smith Shindler a special session of readings and discussion will take place on the afternoon of 4th September, accompanied with afternoon tea. Past entrants and winners will read extracts from their books and be available to take questions and sign books. Taking part will be Lynne Allan, reading from Jenny Uglow's Elizabeth Gaskell; a Habit of Stories (1993), Paul Wilson, reading from his novel Do White Whales Sing at the Edge of the World (1997), Neil Roland, reading from his novel Taken for a Ride (2004) and overall winner of the 2006 Portico Prize, Andrew Biswell, will read from The Real Life of Anthony Burgess (2006). Please contact the Library to book one of the limited places for this free event.

Publishers and authors download your application form here.

Andrew Biswell & Val McDermid
2006 Winners