News

● Costa Book Awards First Novel winner!

On Tuesday 3 January the Costa Book Awards prizes were revealed and I am delighted that my novel, Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away, won the First Novel Award. The announcement was made live on BBC Radio4's Front Row programme.

The Costa Book of the Year awards presentation ceremony will take place on Tuesday 24 January.

Following the announcement of the shortlist on 15 November I've found myself caught up in an astonishing whirlwind of activity, doing interviews for newspapers, TV and radio – in fact, it has all felt a little breathless. Here is how the Guardian announced the nomination: the Guardian. This is what the Independent had to say: the Independent. And this is how the Telegraph broke the news: the Telegraph. Following which they asked me to write a piece myself, focusing on the nursing side of my life: the Telegraph.

Here is the Mail Online's article about Tiny Sunbirds' nomination: Mail Online. And the Guardian has some more coverage, asking whether the famous Creative Writing MA course I did at UEA is still the best (it is!): the Guardian.

Still on the Costa, here's an article that appeared in The Yorker: The Yorker. And just arrived, here's a very nice interview the Evening Standard did: Evening Standard.

And here are recent pieces in the Telegraph, the Guardian and the Independent.

● Over the Christmas period I've been doing some more radio. I was interviewed by Jenny Murray on Woman's Hour on BBC Radio4. And I also appeared on the BBC World Service's World Today programme on Christmas day.

● Delighted to see Tiny Sunbirds praised in the New York Social Diary. Under "London, May 21st" on this page: www.newyorksocialdiary.com.

● BookBrowse have currently chosen Tiny Sunbirds as their Editor's Choice: www.bookbrowse.com.

● Kirkus have chosen Tiny Sunbirds for their Women's Summer Recommended Reading list: www.kirkusreviews.com.

● CNN have picked Tiny Sunbirds as one of their 12 Good Summer Reads: www.cnn.com. Oddly, you need to click on number 13 on that page...

● Tiny Sunbirds has been picked by the American Independent Booksellers as their June Indie Next Read. Information at www.bookweb.org.

● Books on the Nightstand have featured Tiny Sunbirds in a recent podcast. Follow this link to hear it: www.booksonthenightstand.com.