EMBA Shortlist 2010
The East Midlands Book Award 2010 Shortlist
The Trustees of the East Midlands Book Award are pleased to announce the shortlist of the inaugural award for the best book published by an East Midlands’ writer during 2010. The winning writer will be announced at Lowdham Book Festival on Monday 20th June 2011 and will receive a cheque for £1000. The shortlist will be promoted via bookshops, libraries, book groups and events so that readers can make up their own mind.
The shortlist comprises:
Maria Allen (Leicestershire): Before the Earthquake, published by Tindal Street Press
Judith Allnatt (Northamptonshire): The Poet’s Wife, published by Transworld
Stephen Baker (Derbyshire): Hemispheres, published by Atlantic
Ann Featherstone (Derbyshire): The Newgate Jig, published by John Murray
Rosie Garner (Nottinghamshire): The Rain Diaries, published by Salt
Mark Goodwin (Leicestershire): Shod, published by Nine Arches
Adrian Magson (Northamptonshire): Death on the Marais, published by Allison & Busby
Anne Zouroudi (Derbyshire): The Lady of Sorrows, published by Bloomsbury
The judges for this year’s award are the poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, Jaci Brumwell (Head of Libraries and Heritage, Derbyshire County Council) and John Holmes (BBC). The judges commented:
The shortlist shows the quality of prose and poetry being created in the East Midlands…at a time when the publishing business seems to be more and more London-centric, it’s great to see the so-called regions (or are they the provinces?) leading the way in new writing. Ian McMillan
One of my passions is reading and being involved in this award has been a great opportunity to read such a wide variety of books, fiction, non-fiction and poetry. I have been impressed with the wealth of talent in the East Midlands and have enjoyed some books I may not have chosen to read before. Jaci Brumwell
When I was asked to judge the East Midlands Book Awards I expected a reasonable standard of writing and a straightforward task. As the books arrived I realised just how much talent we have in our area. The standard was worthy of national recognition and the diversity of subjects was right across the spectrum. I had a ball reading them all – all 40 of them! John Holmes
Background information
Books submitted for the East Midland Book Award included fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction including biography and graphic novels. Eligible authors have to live in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland though the books can be – and have been – set anywhere in the world. The books must have been published for the first time in 2010 and be published by recognised publishers.
The Trustees of the East Midlands Book Award are David Belbin (novelist), Ross Bradshaw (Lowdham Book Festival), John Lucas (Shoestring Press) and Jane Streeter (The Bookcase), all in an individual capacity.
The Trustees have secured private funding to run the Award for ten years while this year’s award is also supported by one of the biggest regional legal firms, Nelsons and the book wholesaler, Gardners.
The winner will be announced by Ian McMillan at an open awards ceremony at Lowdham Book Festival in June. Nominations for books published in 2011 open on 1st April and close in mid-December.
The East Midlands Book Award is administered by Writing East Midlands
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