Women in Football and Floodlit Dreams are delighted to announce that hugely respected publishing figure Charlotte Atyeo is to join the judging panel for the inaugural Vikki Orvice Prize, submissions for which close this week.

As part of the innovative #WhatIf campaign, WIF and Floodlit Dreams joined forces at the end of last year to invite submissions from women writers for a competition that will guarantee the winner publication of their non-fiction football book.

WIF and Floodlit Dreams then agreed that the competition should be named after Vikki, a WIF board member and pioneering Sun sports writer who died of cancer on 6 February aged 56.

Now Charlotte will join the partners in Floodlit Dreams Publishing, Ian Ridley (Vikki’s husband) and Seth Burkett, along with two nominees from WIF to be named soon, in deciding the winner.

Charlotte will bring a wealth of experience and expertise, having been the former publisher of the cricket ‘bible’ Wisden and of the sports narrative list at Bloomsbury. She is now a freelance editor and a literary agent at Kingsford Campbell.

“It’s fantastic to have Charlotte on board,” said Ian Ridley. “I have worked with her in the past and she has a fabulous feel for what makes a good sports book. She will bring a truly expert eye to the judging process. We are all looking forward to her helping us to choose the winner.”

Entrants have until next Sunday, March 31st, to make their pitch and are required in the first instance to submit a one-page synopsis of their book, along with a sample chapter. They can also submit a full manuscript if it is completed and they wish to do so.

The judging panel will then decide on a winning submission in May, to be announced at a WIF event.

After that, Floodlit Dreams will work with the winning writer to develop their book ready for publication, as an ebook and paperback, at a date to be agreed with the author.

Floodlit Dreams will bear all costs of producing the book and share profits on a 50-50 basis with the author, once those costs have been recouped through sales.

There is no age restriction and you do not have to be a professional writer to enter. Entries must be non-fiction.

Added Ian Ridley: “This offer is open to any woman who thinks they have a book in them. It could be a biography or autobiography, a memoir, anything. There seem to be plenty of books, for example, about fathers, sons and football but none about mothers, daughters and the game.

“We’re open to anything, mainstream or quirky, and from any age group or background. The only criteria really for the judging panel are that the work should be fresh, original and well-written.”

Entrants are requested to send their submissions to info@womeninfootball.co.uk.