The Tom Grass Spirit of Travel Literary Prize celebrates the late author's adventurous spirit and provides a platform to support emerging writers while raising awareness for mental health and literacy in Kenya.
The prize invites writers from all walks of life, whether writing a short story, essay, memoir, piece of reportage, historical investigation, or other hybrid form, as long as the writer reflects the sensibility of the prize.
A panel of judges will decide on the overall winner and runners-up from a longlist referred by supporters. Learn more about the prize, the judges and the process at tomgrassprize.com
A talented writer, Tom studied History at Oxford and wrote in many forms; from novels, to screenplays and advertising copy. His novel Twist was turned into a movie starring Michael Caine in 2021.
Tom enthusiastically explored the world on foot, bicycle and motorbike. He resided for long stretches in East Africa and India where he tackled diverse work projects ranging from women's empowerment to children's literacy.
In Rwanda, Tom worked for the Nike Foundation on female education and empowerment with a charity called Girl Effect. In his downtime he helped local basket weavers design and sell their hammocks and basket chairs to local hotels and online internationally.
In Kenya, he worked in the Kibera slums with local children empowering them through "Zines" — magazines that the children could write, film and photograph themselves. This story was covered by the BBC News.
In Mozambique, he made a "Choose Your Own Adventure" Playbook for teen girls in Beira. And back in Kenya, he tracked down one of the stories from a Zine, searching for the mysterious Night Runners in Western Kenya, a cultural phenomenon that fascinated him so much, he made a film about it.
Tragically, Tom took his own life in 2024 after struggling with depression on and off throughout his adult years. He is deeply missed by his family and friends and this prize has been collectively launched by them to keep his fiercely individual legacy alive.
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The inaugural Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Prize was set up in memory of a dear friend of mine, an accomplished writer and adventurer who tragically took his life earlier this year while struggling with depression.
The Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Literary Prize is now open for submissions:
• Winner will receive £1,000, with two runners-up receiving £500 each.
• Open to anyone aged 25 or over (either unpublished or with no more than one published book) for a short piece of fiction or non-fiction evoking the spirit of adventure.
• Submissions close: 31st March 2025
• Shortlist announced: 15th May 2025
• Prize giving reception in London: 4th June 2025
• Apply at www.tomgrassprize.com
Tom was an adventurous spirit: a multi-talented writer, entrepreneur, charity worker, avid reader and fearless traveller. He bucked convention at every turn and was never more alive and creative than when he was traveling, writing or contributing to the lives of others.
Adventure was always in its rawest form with Tom. On a trip in 2007 to Egypt, Tom insisted we dove the Elphinstone reef near the Sudanese border in search for hammerheads. We drove across the Great Sand Sea to the oasis of Siwa while reliving the exploits of László Almásy, a Hungarian explorer and pilot who aided Rommel's desert campaign in WWII. We even accidentally on purpose took a morning jog into Egyptian President’s compound in Sharm El Sheikh on Christmas day for a chance sighting of Tony Blair, breakfasting with his new bosom dictator buddy, Hosni Murbarak. Thankfully we were overlooked as harmless and turned back by security.
Please share this award with anyone who you feel would benefit from entering this prize and help pass on Tom’s torch to a new generation of adventurers and writers 🙏
sounds like an incredible and special person.
Amazing tribute to him, Tom.
Thanks for sharing, Tom. This looks like a wonderful tribute to your friend and a great way to support emerging writers and journalists. It would be great to see a Travel Massive member apply for, and win the prize!
The video we embedded about Tom's "Zinester" project in Kenya was removed by YouTube, so here's the direct Vimeo link for anyone that would like to watch:
vimeo.com/138198091
Thanks, Ian for trying on that one.