Late last week, I was absolutely shocked, amazed and delighted to discover that my debut novel, Shadow of the Hidden, has won the 2025 Independent Press Award for the Horror category.

One of the great things about being with a publisher like Brigids Gate Press is that they are really invested and really believe in your stories. I knew they’d entered Shadow into a variety of awards, but I never imagined for a second that it would place, let alone win one!

I’ve spoken at length here, on podcasts and in my newsletter about how proud I am of this book and I how it felt different, somehow, to other things I’ve written. During the writing, the editing, and even as I go through things like checking proof copies, or verifying the audiobook (more on that soon), I haven’t ever become tired of it. Nor of the characters. I’m, of course, proud of everything I’ve written, but this always felt like a big step forward for me as a writer, so to receive this award really is a wonderful feeling.

I’d like to express my huge thanks to Brigids Gate’s Heather and Steve for believing in the story, Elle Turpitt for the incredible sharpness of her editing skills in making it the best it can be, and to my beta readers Dan Howarth, Stephanie Ellis and Grant Longstaff for helping me see the things that worked and didn’t.

I’d love this book to find more readers, so if this award makes you even a tiny bit more curious, please do take a chance on it. I really believe in this story, and hope that this helps it to find more of its people.