Dorset writer wins web book award

Trilby Kent lives in Blandford with her partner and their cat Isolde

A Dorset writer who published chapters of her latest book online will make it into print as the winner of YouWriteOn website's book of the year awards.

Trilby Kent's Smoke Portrait was named the book of the year by the Arts Council website.

Ms Kent, 25, of Blandford, entered the opening chapters of her novel, which were reviewed by other website members.

The highest rated stories are then reviewed and critiqued for free by editors for top agents and publishers.

The aim is to help new writers develop and make sure the industry does not miss another JK Rowling.

Harry Potter's opening chapters were rejected by 12 publishers, before Ms Rowling's first book about the boy wizard was published.

Smoke Portrait has already received some interest from the YouWriteOn's affiliated agents, including Ms Rowling's agency Christopher Little, the Arts Council said.

Ms Kent said: "YouWriteOn has given me two very valuable things: the confidence to believe that my writing could enjoy a wide readership and invitations for my work to be considered by top agents and publishers.

"Of course it's only a start - the road to publication success is strewn with dashed hopes and close calls - but [this] has opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed."