With her prizewinning debut, Claire Fuller could be following in the footsteps of Ian Rankin and Hilary Mantel who found success with their later work – but only with the support of her publisherAs one of the judges for the Desmond Elliott prize for best debut novelist this year, I couldn’t help reflect on some of the challenges still to come for the authors. With three such accomplished novels on our shortlist, there was some hard talking in the judges’ room, but in the end we decided, by an honourable 2:1 vote, to award the prize to Claire Fuller for Our Endless Numbered Days. It is a dark and perfectly poised account of a survivalist father hiding out in a remote forest with his increasingly embattled daughter that recalls the early work of Ian McEwan in its brooding slow build to a dramatic climax. But nobody could dispute the literary skill evident in the other books on the shortlist: Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey and Carys Bray’s A Song for Issy Bradley.The vital thing now is that these writers are offered long-term support from their agents and publishers. The amount of publicity given to those first novels that become instant bestsellers distorts the reality for the majority of debut novelists, even very gifted ones: a moderate advance, a small amount of acclaim, a continuing battle to get their next book written and then published. This is the reality for authors who want a sustained career in books. Related: Desmond Elliott prize goes to Claire Fuller's... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s personal diary, which was published Tuesday by Little, Brown, is being billed as the first book written by a Guantánamo detainee. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nick Higham talks to Emma Healey, whose book Elizabeth is Missing, has won the Costa first novel award. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ali Smith and Helen Macdonald are among the winners of this year’s Costa Book Awards, adding to the existing trophy haul for their books. The awards, announced this evening (5th January) on BBC Radio 4’s “Front Row”, also saw wins for Kate Saunders, Jonathan Edwards, and Emma Healey. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstones has revealed its Spring Book Club titles with half of the 12-strong paperback selection authored by debut novelists, including newly crowned Costa First Novel winner Emma Healey (pictured) with Elizabeth is Missing (Penguin). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut authors make up half of the latest WH Smith Richard and Judy Book Club titles, released this week. Four of the eight Spring Book Club picks are first-time novels, and include Waterstones Book of the Year The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (Pan Macmillan), Miss Carter’s War by actress Sheila... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Six debut novelists will compete against writers at the “top of their form” on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebury Press has acquired a book written by the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 03/10/2011 - 17:16 Cornerstone has acquired a book written by Tottenham MP David Lammy about the 2011 riots. Guardian Books acting publisher Katie Roden acquired world rights in Out of the Ashes: Britain After the Riots by Lammy through... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Wed, 25/05/2011 - 09:20 Two titles picked for BBC2s "Culture Show" special on debut novelists, broadcast in March, have made it to the shortlist for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2011. Ned Beaumans Boxer Beetle (Sceptre), also shortlisted for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Lisa Campbell A children's book written by Jo Nesbo is among the choices in Richard and Judys Childrens Book Club, which launched in W H Smith today [27th January]. The husband-and wife television presenting team are working alongside the charity Booktrust, to encourage more... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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