Ahead of the Booker shortlist announcement this week, we’ve released these two exclusive videos of Booker longlisted author Sam Thompson. Filmed in his office in Oxford, he discusses his debut novel Communion Town, the definition of a city and the books that inspired him. Also shown are Sam’s drawings, which became the novel’s chapter-headings and capture perfectly the spirit of the book.
I’m dumbstruck by the news that Communion Town has been longlisted for the Man Booker prize. What can you say about such an improbable stroke of good fortune for a first novel, other than repeating words like ‘thrilled’, ‘incredulous’, ‘bamboozled’ and ‘er… what?’ That’s what I’ve been doing since they announced the list. Getting a first book published at all feels like hitting the jackpot, so also catching the eyes of judges in a competition like the Booker is ridiculous, embarrassing bounty – more than any first-time writer could sensibly hope for.
Amazing news at 4th Estate HQ! Care Of Wooden Floors by Will Wiles has been longlisted for the Desmond Elliott prize 2012.
The committee noted how ‘this longlist reflects a trend in debut fiction of bringing contemporary resonance to some traditional heavyweight themes’, and Wiles’ novel is no exception.
Exciting news! Dan Lepard’s Short And Sweet has been shortlisted in the Food category of the 2011 Andre Simon Food & Drink Book Awards.
The shortlisted books for the 2011 prize in the food category are:
Bocca – Jacob Kenedy published by Bloomsbury
Couture Chocolate – William Curley published by Jacqui Small
The Emperor of All Maladies is longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award.
Congratulations to Siddhartha Mukherjee, as the Emperor of All Maladies has been longlisted for The Guardian First Book Award .
The awards recognise the finest new writing talent who have had work published in English in the last year.
The longlist will be reduced to a shortlist by the judging panel including One Day author David Nicholls. The judging panel will take advice from Guardian reading groups, run in association with Waterstones across the UK.
Fantastic news! GOLD BOY, EMERALD GIRL by Yiyun Li has been shortlisted for the prestigious FRANK O’CONNOR INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY AWARD, the world’s largest short story award.
The shortlist is as follows:
GOLD BOY, EMERALD GIRL by Yiyun Li
