‘It’s an amazing feeling’ - Author’s debut thriller could be turned into Amazon Prime show
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Mariella Frostrup (L) and winner Ian W.Sainsbury attend the Kindle Storyteller Award 2019, which recognises outstanding writing, on October 14, 2019 in London, England. The annual £20,000 literary prize was announced today.Pic credit: Dave Benett - Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Amazon Kindle Storyteller
A musician turned author has won this year’s UK Kindle Storyteller Award and will have the chance to have his book turned into an Amazon Prime series.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Mariella Frostrup (L) and winner Ian W.Sainsbury attend the Kindle Storyteller Award 2019, which recognises outstanding writing, on October 14, 2019 in London, England. The annual £20,000 literary prize was announced today.Pic credit: Dave Benett - Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Amazon Kindle Storyteller
On October 14, Ian W. Sainsbury was named the winner of the prestigious literary award for his first ever psychological thriller, The Picture on the Fridge.
The 50-year-old from Beccles has been writing since 2016 and has always aspired to become an independently published author.
Prior to his writing career, Mr Sainsbury was a musician for circuses and cruise ships as well as a stand-up comedian.
His story follows a mother and wife battling self doubt and suspicions after her daughter draws a detailed picture of a place they've never been.
As her life begins to unravel, her paranoia and suspicion towards her husband mounts, unveiling an unimaginable secret.
Mr Sainsbury said: "It's an amazing feeling to have won and totally unexpected. To know I was chosen out of thousands is incredible and I was in such great company in the shortlist.
"What I love about this award is the name 'storyteller', because when I first wrote a book it was to do just that, tell a story.
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"It wasn't to be a literary giant, it was just because I really wanted to tell a story.
"This Kindle Storyteller Award recognises people who are telling stories and through Kindle Direct Publishing anybody can do that. If you've got a story in you, get it out there - because it could be you next year."
In addition to the £20,000 prize money, Mr Sainsbury will receive a marketing campaign to support the book on Amazon.co.uk, and the opportunity to have his book translated.
The finalists and winning titles from all six Kindle literary awards around the world will be evaluated by a panel of experts from Amazon International Originals, and one will be selected to work with Amazon Studios to have their entry developed for potential adaptation into a Prime Video production.
Journalist and presenter Mariella Frostrup, who was a judge at the awards described his book as "immediately gripping with great tension and believable characters".
