AUB MA Creative Writing (Online) student Kate Couch has been longlisted in the 2026 Farnham First Five Pages competition for her debut novel, Gallybaggar.
Conceived during her studies and now serving as her final major project, Gallybaggar is a ‘triple narrative’ folk horror set on Kate’s native Isle of Wight. The story weaves together the lives of three women across different eras: Rachel, a contemporary trainee teacher; Alice, a Victorian mother grieving a tragic loss; and Hephzibah, a 14th-century witch.
Kate submitted the opening 1,500 words and a synopsis to the international competition, which attracted 435 entries from 16 countries:
“I received an email on February 11 from the competition organisers to say that following the initial judging, my novel extract had been longlisted,” Kate says. “I was really surprised to make it through the initial judging phase.”
While Kate’s work didn't make the final shortlist, the experience provided invaluable industry recognition. The competition, which offers a £1,000 top prize and critique from award-winning writers and literary agents, yielded high praise from judge and bestselling author B.A. Paris, who noted, “Every writer starts somewhere, and entering this competition is proof of your commitment to the craft. Recognition comes in many forms; what matters is that you keep creating, keep submitting, keep going.”
A seasoned journalist of 30 years, Kate is no stranger to the publishing world. In 2009, she self-published A Trans-Siberian Odyssey, a travel memoir that raised £7,000 for her local hospice.
Students and staff can read an extract of Gallybaggar in the MA Creative Writing anthology, Tendrils: An Anthology on Nature, Growth and Identity. The book officially launches at the AUB campus on Wednesday, April 22 and is also available for purchase on Amazon.
