Pip Landers-Letts, the author of Pyg, has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Kindle Storyteller Award, a literary award which gives self-published authors the opportunity to win £20,000 each year.
Pyg is a contemporary queer retelling of the classic Pygmalion, a play Landers-Letts studied at university in Winchester. The idea for the book came about years later, when she found and picked up a worn edition, with her own cast of characters immediately appearing to her. The idea for her retelling of Pyg, combining romance and mystery, was born.
In 2022, after a 15-year career in retail banking, Landers-Letts was struggling to find her sense of purpose and decided to make the leap to writing. Soon after, she started writing everyday, eventually turning her words into a book.
After querying publishers and finding that there was less space for LGBTQIA+ storytelling in traditional publishing, she opted to take back creative control and turn to self-publishing. Self-publishing gave her the platform to find her voice in the publishing world and build a community of readers. She now has two published titles.
Upon winning the literary prize, Landers-Letts commented: “It’s such an honour to be recognised by this award. When I first started self-publishing my work, I never believed this could happen. I found the traditional publishing route mystifying and couldn’t see a space for someone like me. Self-publishing has given me the incredible opportunity to see my work in print and in more hands than I could ever imagine. I really believe we should all be able to find ourselves in the stories we read, so I’m grateful to KDP for the platform that means voices like mine don’t need permission to be heard.”
What is the Kindle Storyteller Award?
Amazon’s Kindle Storyteller Award is a literary award celebrating the UK’s best self-published story. The award champions and offers recognition to the nation’s best independent writers, both new and established across any genre. Each year, the winning author receives a £20,000 prize fund.
Previous winners have included Stateside by JD Kirk and King Of War by Peter Gibbons. Since winning the award in 2024, JD Kirk has gone on to write his first psychological thriller, which is due to be released later this year.
With Pyg, Landers-Letts becomes the ninth English language Kindle Storyteller Award winner.
Kindle Storyteller Award 2025 shortlist
After a record-breaking year for the number of submissions, this year’s shortlist spanned a range of genres, celebrating the best of this year’s self-published fiction and non-fiction across romance, comedy, children’s, drama, and thriller.
'Pyg' by Pip Landers-Letts
Pip Landers-Letts is an emerging LGBTQIA+ author whose work shines a light on underrepresented voices in contemporary fiction. Landers-Letts explores themes of love, identity, and belonging through nuanced characterisation and modern storytelling.
Pyg is a bold and tender contemporary sapphic novel that reimagines the classic tale of love and transformation through a modern queer lens. With a sharp and fresh perspective, Landers-Letts carves out an important space in contemporary queer literature.
'When Death Calls' by J M Dalgliesh
J M Dalgliesh is a multi-million bestselling British crime writer whose work has consistently topped Amazon’s bestseller charts.
When Death Calls is the sixteenth novel in his acclaimed Hidden Norfolk series. Set against the stark, brooding landscapes of the Norfolk coast and countryside, the book continues Dalgliesh’s trademark blend of tense plotting, complex characters, and chilling atmosphere. With themes of secrecy, deception, and justice, the series has cemented his reputation as one of Britain’s most popular crime writers working today.
'The Bed In The Shed' by Izzy Bromley
Izzy Bromley, the pen name of million-copy bestseller Imogen Clark, has written a lively, refreshing tale, her writing perfectly capturing the complexity of personal growth and self-discovery.
Done with the relentless drudgery of everyday life, when her husband cancels their family holiday for a boys’ trip to Vegas, Carrie takes a stand – by moving into the garden shed. The Bed In The Shed is a heartfelt story following a journey of healing, personal growth, and rediscovery in unexpected places.
'The Gathering Of Clan McFee' by Karen Baugh Menuhin
Karen Baugh Menuhin is a cosy crime writer who, after only beginning her writing career in her 60s, is now a successful author best known for the Heathcliff Lennox murder mystery series.
Set in Scotland during the glamorous roaring 1920s, amidst eccentric servants, family members, and aristocratic country houses, The Gathering Of Clan McFee is the fourteenth book in the series and makes for a classic “whodunnit” murder mystery story.
Read The Gathering Of Clan McFee now
'Tales Of The Witch's Cat: Escape From Petopia' by Kirstie Watson
Kirstie Watson is a children’s author passionate about creating magical, adventurous stories that inspire imagination and curiosity in young readers. With a background in storytelling Winston has developed a warm and accessible style perfect for children’s chapter books.
Tales Of The Witch’s Cat: Escape From Petopia is a magical children’s chapter book for readers aged five and up. Full of charm, mischief, and enchantment, it follows the adventures of a clever witch’s cat navigating a fantastical world filled with unexpected twists.
Read Tales of the Witch’s Cat: Escape From Petopia now
Who are the judges and how is the winner decided?
Readers play a pivotal role in helping choose the initial shortlist of stories with bestseller rankings and reader reviews taken into account.
A panel of esteemed judges, including top figures from the world of publishing and Amazon Books, as well as JD Kirk (the prize’s 2024 winner), judged the shortlisted titles to decide who should be crowned this year’s winner. A range of factors including plot, originality, creativity of content, and the quality and style of writing were taken into consideration.
Who can enter?
The competition is open each year to writers aged 18 or over publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing, in English, in any genre. You can review our submission guidelines here.
How do I enter?
Entries for the Kindle Storyteller Award 2026 open in spring.
The competition accepts English language submissions newly published through Kindle Direct Publishing. All titles must have a minimum of 24 pages in paperback and must be enrolled in Kindle Direct Publishing Select while they are in the competition. For further information, visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/storyteller.
Find out more about the latest news at Amazon.
