Checking in with Guy Baldwin - SWF22 Romance Genre First Prize Winner

Guy Baldwin having a well deserved refreshment.

Guy Baldwin is the winner of the SWF2022 Romance Genre prize. The competition for our 5th anniversary prize genre categories and for the grand prize was fierce, and Guy came out on top of the Romance genre with the first five pages of his novel The Views: A Law Firm Novel, a humorous but romance driven take on work as a lawyer in a big law firm, which practically makes it legal tender.

We interviewed Guy back in January of 2023, and he recently reached out with an update for us on the publication of his novel. We’re thrilled to be able to share that The Views: A Law Firm Novel is now available for purchase!

We’re always curious how things evolved, and what takeaways we can share with our community, so we had some additional questions for Guy, below.

Guy Baldwin’s Website: http://guyjbaldwin.com/

The Views: A Law Firm Novel is now available on Amazon at: https://amzn.eu/d/2GhhM3a

Now that The Views: A Law Firm Novel is published (previously Sweatshop in the Sky), how did the story evolve from the version you submitted to the SWF 2022 First 5 Pages Prize to the final book?

I had a draft of the novel when I submitted to the festival in 2022, but I succumbed to perfectionism and continued working on it for some time, and only finalized it in 2025. The first five pages that won the prize in 2022 are essentially unchanged, but some parts of the rest of the story were reordered and there were other minor tweaks and additions throughout. The basic story remains the same.

What inspired the change of title from Sweatshop in the Sky to The Views: A Law Firm Novel, and how do you feel the new title represents the story?

Originally, the title was The Views. I changed it to Sweatshop in the Sky as I worked on it, but in the end I changed it back. Although I think Sweatshop is catchier, it's too heavy handed for what is ultimately a nuanced satirical take on corporate legal practice. To the main character Jason Winters, the views he enjoys over the harbour are the most important, and conceptually foundational, aspect of his job, and the title honours that.

Can you share a specific moment or breakthrough during the journey from manuscript to publication that was especially challenging or rewarding?

When I designed the cover, that was a special moment. Finally, it looked like it was ready. I used a photo I took in London that I was very happy with.

Looking back, how did winning the Stockholm Writers Festival First 5 Pages Prize impact your publishing trajectory? Did it open doors or influence how agents or publishers responded to the book?

The prize did seem to generate interest in terms of the querying process. I also had a positive manuscript appraisal from a professional appraisal agency in hand. However, ultimately I decided to self-publish. I think the novel is too idiosyncratic for the publishing industry as it currently exists. It is not really like anything else, apart perhaps from inspirations Catch-22 and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Your novel blends humor, romance, and an insider’s look at law firm life. How have readers responded to that mix since publication?

They have responded very positively so far. Just today I received this message from a reader: "I've been reading your book and enjoying it. I've read a few lines out loud to the family and they have laughed." I find that kind of feedback extremely heartening. My hope is that the satirical and absurd aspects of the story work well together with the deeper truths of Jason's journey.

Are there themes or character arcs in The Views that especially reflect your own experiences in legal practice or academia, and did those elements deepen during revision?

The novel is totally fictional, but I did draw some inspiration from the realities of legal practice. I have been told it is very relatable for lawyers. Although there is some satirical material about academia, that vein is left largely untapped.

Thinking back to the festival’s agent pitch session, did any specific feedback from that meeting influence how you approached the next steps in publishing?

The feedback from the pitch meeting was encouraging, but I also got the sense, even then, that what I was trying to do may have been a little too out there for the publishing industry.

Since publishing The Views, have you begun new creative projects, and how has your writing life changed in the past few years?

I am still working on the fantasy novel I mentioned in the last interview, and that is likely to be my next work of fiction. It may take a little time, as I also have academic writing in the works that draws a lot of my attention. I find both literary and academic writing to be highly rewarding.

If you could offer one piece of advice to writers in the midst of the long road to publication—especially those entering competitions like the SWF First 5 Pages Prize—what would it be?

Listen carefully to feedback, but ultimately form your own assessment of what is right for your book. It is your vision, and you have to be true to it above all else.

Now that you’ve gone from entering a competition to publishing a novel, how do you see the role of literary prizes like the SWF First 5 Pages Prize in the broader writing and publishing landscape?

I think they play an invaluable role. The SWF First 5 Pages Prize, in particular, is really important in providing recognition of, and encouragement and support to, writers in the early stages of their work. You guys are doing a wonderful job. It's also a brilliant festival.