Club member Lytel takes prize in writing contest for eco-thriller

National Press Club member Jayne Lytel, author of Act Early Against Autism (Penguin), took first place and $500 in Writing Away Refuge's First Chapter Contest for her debut psychological eco-thriller Run From Sunday, a hacktivist’s battle for love, morality and the planet’s future. The manuscript also secured third place and $200 in the Storywise contest.

Bold Story Press will publish the novel in 2026. The work symbolizes society's inescapable reliance on fossil fuels. Bandlab named Lytel Artist of the Week. Under @runfromsunday, she transforms each chapter into songs that capture the novel's themes, emotions and narrative arc.

Lytel, a Communicator member since 2020, serves as chief AI architect at capMedia Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of capAI plc, where she designs AI creative platforms, including Author42, for publishing and entertainment systems.

You may have noticed her graphics used recently in NPC promotions of the Run for Austin Virtual 5K.