Francesca de Tores wins the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for SALTBLOOD

We’re delighted that the Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation has selected SALTBLOOD by Francesca de Tores as the winner of the 2024 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Best Published Novel. De Tores’s novel charts the life of Mary Read, one of the few recorded female pirates during the 1700s ‘Golden Age of Piracy’, fictionalising her story and filling in the many gaps left by minimal historical reports. Juliet Mushens accepted the award on Francesca’s behalf at a private ceremony on September 19th and can be seen below posing with the gorgeous trophy!

Niso Smith, Founder of the Wilbur Smith Prize, said about SALTBLOOD, “De Tores has created a protagonist defiant of convention; a woman who, despite her start in life, transforms and learns to truly know herself. SALTBLOOD is a triumph of imagination – breathtaking and boundless. My sincere congratulations to Francesca.”.

SALTBLOOD was selected by judges Matt Barr, writer, journalist and host of the Looking Sideways Action Sports podcast; Lee Craigie, former professional mountain bike racer and director of The Adventure Syndicate; Dr Alasdair Harris, marine conservationist and National Geographic Explorer; Sarah Outen, record-breaking athlete and therapist; and Emma Styles, author and winner of the 2023 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.

Congratulations, Francesca!