Book Links Mentorship 2025
The Book Links Mentorship is open to all members of Book Links residing in Australia.
Applicants were invited to submit a synopsis and the first two chapters or first 6000 words of a work of fiction for junior fiction, middle-grade or YA readers, or two picture book manuscripts.
The winners were announced at the Book Links AGM on Saturday 4 October.
This year’s Book Links Mentorship entries offered a surprising array of genres, themes, settings and characters. Overall, entries reflected the many pressing problems and issues encountered by children and young adults and their universal desire to be seen and heard among the relentless noise of our world. There was much to relish, reflect on and admire, and deciding on a longlist, shortlist and lastly the top three was an extremely tough task! Kristy wanted to commend every person who was brave enough to enter and encourages everyone to put themselves forward for the mentorship next year.
So, without further ado, the first runner up is a middle grade manuscript that immediately captures the imagination and anticipation of the reader while also pulling at the heartstrings when the feeling of invisibility becomes reality for the sensitively portrayed protagonist. Congratulations to Karen Tyrrell and her manuscript Invisible Girl which will be receiving the David Lowe 60-minute meeting.
With sensory and evocative prose and a headstrong protagonist, the second runner up is a historical World War I middle grade, that looks at different perspectives of suspicion, loyalty and belonging. Congratulations to Jenny Ruge and her manuscript Losing Lottie Weisner. Jenny will be receiving the Jackie French mentorship consisting of three one-hour sessions.
And … the winner of the Book Links Mentorship for 2025 with a stellar opening line, fast-paced action that hooks in the reader straightaway, immersive futuristic world-building and a highly topical AI-upgrade extended reality concept that easily speaks to the target young adult audience, is Jamie Willis with her dystopian young adult manuscript Upgrade. Jamie wins a manuscript appraisal and nine-hour mentorship with editor Kristy Bushnell valued at $1500. Congratulations Jamie, Jenny and Karen!
Shortlist for the Book Links Mentorship 2025
Victoria Ellen Dot (PB)
Christine Pirrone Vomit Comet (PB)
Jenny Ruge Losing Lottie Weisner (MG) – Winner of the Jackie French mentoring session
Karen Tyrrell Invisible Girl (MG) – Winner of the Dave Lowe Mentoring session
Jamie Willis Upgrade (YA) – Winner of the Book Links Mentorship with Kristy Bushnell
Longlist Book Links Mentorship 2025
Lara Cain Gray Helpful Harry’s Bin Night Blunder (PB)
Verity Anne Croker Bella’s Rock (MG)
Victoria Ellen Dot (PB)
Ree Evans-Hill Olm (MG)
Christine Pirrone Vomit Comet (PB)
Jenny Ruge Losing Lottie Weisner (MG)
Karen Tyrrell Invisible Girl (MG)
Jamie Willis Upgrade (YA)
