@theisprize.bsky.social
The world’s most valuable travel writing prize for women https://www.ilseschwepckeprize.co.uk/
Missed our prize ceremony at the Frankfurt Book Fair?
Watch here as Ursula Martin and Millay Hyatt are awarded the inaugural Ilse Schwepcke Prize:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI13...
✍️ NEW BLOG POST
We had the pleasure awarding inaugural Prize winners Ursula Martin and Millay Hyatt at the @buchmesse.de.
Read more about the ceremony here: www.ilseschwepckeprize.co.uk/news/awardin...
A MASSIVE congratulations to Ursula Martin! One Woman Walks Europe has won the Ilse Schwepcke Prize for Women's Travel Writing 2025!
An exhilarating journey into the wild nature of land and her own spirit.
One Woman Walks Europe is out now by @honnopress.bsky.social
A huge congratulations to Ursula, and to our shortlisted authors.
17.10.2025 08:00 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0ONE WOMAN WALKS EUROPE is Ursula’s 5,500 mile trek across Europe – a raw and inspiring journey of wild camping, resilience, and self-discovery. Battling fear and isolation she finds strength in solitude, connection in nature, and a deeper understanding of home and belonging.
17.10.2025 08:00 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0Ursula will be awarded tonight at the @buchmesse.de along side the winner of the German prize, Der Ilse Schwepcke Preis, Millay Hyatt.
17.10.2025 08:00 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
We are delighted to reveal that Ursula Martin is the winner of the inaugural #TheIlseSchwepckePrize for her book, ONE WOMAN WALKS EUROPE (@honnopress.bsky.social).
This is what she said about winning the Prize ⬇️
Arabella Friesen said: ‘A long look over her shoulder at her younger self in the early post-Soviet years: Groskop’s voice is wonderfully wry and funny, her memoir of her student days in Russia and Ukraine fresh and zestful...’
Read more about the 2025 shortlist in our bio.
Helena Attlee said: ‘Funny, compelling and clever, this beautifully written book found its way onto the shortlist for capturing the atmosphere and practical realities of everyday life in the ex-Soviet Union just after the fall of the Berlin Wall...’
15.10.2025 10:29 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
🌟SHORTLIST SPOTLIGHT
Our final shortlist spotlight is ONE UKRAINIAN SUMMER, Viv Groskop‘s enthralling memoir of her time spent in post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine.
Stephanie Yeboah said: ‘...The author takes readers on a journey not just across landscapes but into the heart of perseverance and self-discovery, with warmth and honesty shining through every page.’
Read more about the 2025 shortlist through the link in our bio.
Arabella Friesen said: ‘Martin’s five and a half thousand mile walk across Europe is a feat by any measure: for sheer guts, determination, courage both physical and mental, dauntlessness and good humour. She is a marvel … The world seems wider after reading this book.’
07.10.2025 11:55 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
🌟 SHORTLIST SPOTLIGHT
Next on our shortlist spotlight is ONE WOMAN WALKS EUROPE – Ursula Martin’s extraordinary, captivating story of walking 5500 miles from Eastern to Western Europe.
Stephanie Yeboah said: ‘This is a beautifully written memoir that captures the magic of place and the power of transformation…’
Read more about the 2025 shortlist through the link in our bio.
Helena Attlee said: ‘The beautifully told story of a long, slow relationship with Greece and its culture. We shortlisted it for its vivid evocation of travelling as a young woman abroad, with all the excitement and technicolour observations of everyday life in Greece…’
30.09.2025 11:11 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
🌟SHORTLIST SPOTLIGHT
Victoria Whitworth’s moving and courageous memoir, DUST AND POMEGRANATES, entwines recollections from her youth with explorations of Greek myth and legend.
✍️ NEW BLOG POST
We had a wonderful evening celebrating the announcement of the English and German shortlists at John Sandoe Books on Saturday.
Read more about it here: www.ilseschwepckeprize.co.uk/news/celebra...
The shortlist for the Ilse Schwepcke Prize has now been announced.
Congratulations to Kapka Kassabova, Ursula Martin, Viv Groskop (@vivgroskop) and Victoria Whitworth,
It is an annual award, administered by the SoA, for women’s travel writing in the English language.
The winner will be announced on 17 October and awarded at @buchmesse.de. If you’re at the fair, please join us in celebrating the winners at the Reading Island for Independent Publishers in Hall 3.1 (C105).
19.09.2025 17:40 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Our jurors said:
‘…Taken together, the books had much to teach us about courage, resilience and determination. They captured the many and varied creative responses of women to the world. … It was a struggle to draw up a shortlist from this rich mix.’
📖 ANIMA by Kapka Kassabova @vintagebooks.bsky.social
📖 ONE UKRAINIAN SUMMER by Viv Groskop @ithakapress.bsky.social
📖 DUST AND POMEGRANATES by Victoria Whitworth @headofzeus.bsky.social
📖 ONE WOMANS WALKS EUROPE by @onewomanwalks.bsky.social @honnopress.bsky.social
We are thrilled to announce the shortlist of the inaugural #TheIlseSchwepckePrize for women’s travel writing.
Congratulations to our shortlisted authors!
Read more about the shortlist here: ilseschwepckeprize.co.uk/2025-shortlist/
A reminder that submissions for the inaugural #TheIlseSchwepckePrize will close on Monday 31 March.
To see the full eligibility criteria, and to apply, visit the link in our bio.
✍️ NEW BLOG POST
In this post, we highlight some of our favourite women travellers and explorers to celebrate Women's History Month.
Read here: www.ilseschwepckeprize.co.uk/news/womens-...
Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including British Vogue, Elle, Sylist, Grazia, Refinery29 and more.
To find out more about how to apply for the #IlseSchwepckePrize, visit the link in our bio.
Stephanie is the author of ‘Fattily Ever After: A Black Fat Girl’s Guide to Living Life Unapologetically’, a critically acclaimed book that explores the intersections of race, body image and mental health. She is also author of the upcoming romantic comedy novel, ‘Chaotic Energy’, out in April 2025.
26.02.2025 12:20 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Stephanie Yeboah is a freelance writer, author, content creator and body image advocate based in London.
26.02.2025 12:20 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
📚 MEET THE JUDGES
Our third and final Juror is Stephanie Yeboah
[📸: Kaye Ford]
Arabella studied archaeology at SOAS and has worked as a translator, writer, researcher, editor, reviewer, artist, gardener and cook. She has worked at John Sandoe in London since 2012.
To find out more about how to apply for the #IlseSchwepckePrize, visit the link in our bio.
📚 MEET THE JUDGES
Our second juror is, Arabella von Friesen.
