The 2012 Costa Books Awards shortlist has been announced.
The Costa Book Awards recognise the most enjoyable books in five categories – First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book – published in the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
Nominees include Hilary Mantel, author Mark Watson, author Wendy Holden, actress and broadcaster Janet Ellis and poet Daljit Nagra.
Two graphic novels are among the nominated- a very exciting first! They are Days of the Bagnold Summer by Joff Winterhart (Novel category) and Dotter of her Father’s Eyes by Mary & Bryan Talbot (Biography category).
Novelist Andrew Miller won the 2011 award for Pure. Set in pre-revolutionary Paris in 1785, Pure is the story of Jean-Baptiste Baratte, an ambitious young engineer, who is assigned the task of emptying the noxious, overflowing Parisian cemetery Les Innocents, and of demolishing its church.
The winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2012 (who will receive £30,000) will announced at the Costa Book Awards ceremony in London on Tuesday 29th January 2013.
To read more about the buzz surrounding the graphic novels in this year’s shortlists, check out this Guardian article Costa book awards: the comic contenders.
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