The annual Isle of Wight Book Awards opened the 2025 Isle of Wight Literary Festival last Tuesday (7th October) with a prize-giving lunch at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, celebrating books published in 2024 that are set on or about the Isle of Wight.
Books by authors from anywhere in the world were eligible, provided they featured Isle of Wight content. Both traditionally published and self-published works were accepted, though only printed books were considered, with e-books excluded from entry.
Guests enjoyed a 3-course lunch ahead of the awards ceremony. Organiser Paul Armfield opened the event with a speech highlighting the awards’ mission to raise the profile of Island writing. He also read a poem by the late poet Tony Harrison. A welcome from Awards founder Hunter Davies followed, including a tribute to best-selling author and close friend Jilly Cooper, who had passed away the previous day.
The awards featured 3 categories – Children’s, Fiction and Non-Fiction – each judged by a notable figure. Nicholas Allan, author and illustrator, judged the Children’s category. Fiction was judged by former BBC journalist Mark Eccleston, while Non-Fiction entries were reviewed by author and art historian Lucinda Hawksley.
The 2025 Isle of Wight Book Awards winners are as follows:
Children’s
- There Will Be Blue Skies by Jo Cooper
- The Search for Donkey Paradise by David Goodday
- Chuffle by Tracy Mikich
Fiction
- The Devil to Pay by Katie Daysh
- A Drowning Tide by Sarah Lawton
- The Laughing Robot by Julia Ross
Non-Fiction
- There Is No Second by Magnus Wheatley
- The Isle of Wight: Women, History, Books and Places by Susanna Hoe
- Upgrading the Isle of Wight’s Railway by Richard C. Long
Book of the Year was awarded to The Devil to Pay by Katie Daysh.
Continuing its tradition of supporting local causes, this year’s event raised funds for Sporting Opportunities IW, a charity providing sports training and competition for athletes with learning disabilities. Now accredited by Special Olympics Great Britain, the organisation supports participation in local, regional and national events.
Category winners received £200 each, with the overall winner awarded an additional £500. Sponsors of the 2025 event included David and Patsy Franks, Isle of Wight Festival, Creative Island, Medina Publishing and Monkton Arts.
