| As February draws to a close, taking the last of winter with it, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past few weeks. While we at Bradt HQ are thrilled that spring has finally sprung (and we have lots of exciting events in the works!), 2024 hasn't been too bad already... Our team of expert judges were busy working behind the scenes to create the shortlist for our New Travel Writer of the Year Competition. We swooned over Europe's most romantic destinations and got road-trip ready with this guide to driving California. Plans for our anniversary year got well under way and advance copies of Hilary Bradt's brand new book were eagerly consumed by members of the Bradt team. You can pre-order a copy here. Read on for more... Before judging, everyone mentioned the very high quality of writing this year, with the theme ‘Taking the Risk’ inspiring some thrilling stories and admiration for the sheer courage of some of these writers. Because of the high standard we agreed to make the shortlist four, rather than the usual three. Those that didn’t quite make it but scored highly get a Highly Commended mention and the other worthy writers on the long list are Commended. The judges appreciate the chance to explain why they rated some of the entries so highly. You can find a sample of their comments below: The Shortlist Niqabs in the Saudi Dust– Lisa Bischoff 'An unusual, revelatory and disturbing piece that packs a huge emotional punch.' Hilary Bradt Risks, Reservoirs and Rewards– Jemima Blench 'There is a fine sense of wonder and personal risk, and a strong feeling of authenticity. The language is vivid and fluent, and the surprise ending is rather moving.' Jonathan Lorie Lost and Found– Sinean Callery ‘This is a clever piece, full of menace and beauty in both the landscape and the shifting relationship between the two guides travelling through it.’ Adrian Phillips The Golden City– Becci Jewell ‘A vivid portrait of a city on the edge. Confident writing and unshowy descriptions. The shape of the piece was particularly strong, with the stop-start of the stranger’s thoughts echoing the traffic in the opening paragraph.’ Hugh Brune Highly Commended Let the Nubbel Take the Blame – Amelia Hodsdon ‘This entry builds beautifully, from its light-hearted opening observations of the colour and comedy of carnival costumes to a growing awareness of the currents of sexual energy and ancient ritual that run through the celebrations. Very nicely handled.’ Adrian Phillips A Pilgrimage in Tibet – Gareth Roberts ‘What I especially liked about the piece was his reaction to the temple, the arrival and devotion of the other pilgrims are described with a sense of wonder and respect, and a skilfully subtle suggestion of the risks they take with every step. A strong finish too, which serves well as a contrast between the movement of the pilgrims and the unmoving repressive police on stand by.’ Amy Sohanpaul Stranded in the Kalahari – Nikki Scrivener In Too Deep - Jacqueline Hitt Sprindrift and Fear – Annabel Jackson Prow Commended Sun, Sea and Sanitiser – Chris Baker Showing Them Europe – Emily Collins A Walk to Work – Priscilla Megalaa A Silent Embrace – Novaya Politra Featured Articles A different kind of road trip in California The best places to travel in 2024 The most romantic cities in Europe New & Upcoming Titles The Bradt Guide to Saudi Arabia The Bradt Guide to The Gambia Cycling in Surrey PRE-ORDER: Paddling France PRE-ORDER: D-Day Landings PRE-ORDER: South Devon & Dartmoor PRE-ORDER: Orkney PRE-ORDER: Romania - Transylvania PRE-ORDER: The Cotswolds PRE-ORDER: Taking the Risk Tools, Talks & Upcoming Events To find out more about our plans for our 50th anniversary, head to our hub page and be the first to hear about our upcoming events, read our exclusive content and participate in the festivities! It's always a good time to join our Travel Club for exclusive material from authors, behind the scenes access and big discounts on our books. Bradt Guides
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