The world’s first global online literary festival, created in Jersey, was a double award winner last night at the Jersey Tech Awards. MyVLF, launched just six months ago by three Jersey authors, was named Digital Start-up of the Year and Digital Creative Project of the Year.
The awards came on the same day that MyVLF was announced as a finalist for BookTech Startup of the Year, in the UK Publishing industry’s, Future Book Awards run by The Bookseller.
Founder Gwyn GB commented: “We are absolutely delighted with the recognition MyVLF has received. Just four months after we launched, we were nominated as finalists in the Digital Book World Awards in the USA, and now to be finalists in the UK publishing industry awards and receive double recognition in our home Island, is just phenomenal. It goes to show that Jersey’s digital industry really is making its mark in the world.”
MyVLF is a completely local product, founded by authors: Gwyn GB, Deborah Carr and Kelly Clayton, it was built in Jersey by Snap.je and Virtex Studios. It uses cutting-edge technology, and looks like a real venue with a theatre, café and even an exhibition hall where readers can view author and publisher stands. The site is completely free.
Founder Deborah Carr commented: “We have had tremendous support from the global literary community, with our second major festival coming up on November 23rd, the first two events have featured best-selling authors from across the globe. Our USP is “connecting readers and authors” and that’s exactly what we are achieving.”
Internationally acclaimed traditionally published writers, including: Peter James, Cecelia Ahern, Barbara Erskine and Tess Gerritsen have joined top-selling indie published authors like Bella Andre, Tim Tigner and Adam Croft, and non-fiction writers such as Liz Earle.
Founder Kelly Clayton commented: “MyVLF also appeals to people because it is a sustainable festival. No one has to pay to attend or travel to a venue, it really is a completely accessible event that simply requires access to the internet to be able to participate. We have authors and readers from across the globe, all attending because of a joint love of reading books.”
