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.
Originally established in 1971 by Whitbread, Costa announced its takeover of the sponsorship of the UK’s most prestigious book prize in 2006.
This year’s Costa Book Awards attracted 550 entries. Judges on this year’s panels (three per category) include author and comedian Mark Watson; authors Matt Whyman and Wendy Holden; actress and broadcaster Janet Ellis and poet Daljit Nagra.
Winners in the five categories, who each receive £5,000, will be announced on Thursday 3rd January 2013. The overall winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2012 will receive £30,000 and will be selected and announced at the Costa Book Awards ceremony in central London on Tuesday 29th January 2013.
www.costabookawards.com
2012 Costa Novel Award Shortlist
Hilary Mantel – ‘Bring up the Bodies’
Stephen May – ‘Life! Death! Prizes!
James Meek – ‘The Heart Broke In’
Joff Winterhart – ‘Days of the Bagnold Summer’
2012 Costa First Novel Award Shortlist
J.W. Ironmonger – ‘The Notable Brain of Maximilian Ponder’
Jess Richards – ‘Snake Ropes’
Francesca Segal – ‘The Innocents’
Benjamin Wood – ‘The Bellwether Revivals’
2012 Costa Biography Award Shortlist
Artemis Cooper – ‘An Adventure’
Selina Guinness – ‘The Crocodile by the Door: The Story of a House, a Farm and a Family’
Kate Hubbard – ‘Serving Victoria: Life in a Royal Household’
Mary Talbot and Bryan Talbot – ‘Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes’
2012 Costa Poetry Award Shortlist
Sean Borodale – ‘Bees Journal’
Julia Copus – ‘The World’s Two Smallest Humans’
Selima Hill – ‘People Who Like Meatballs’
Kathleen Jamie – ‘The Overhaul’
2012 Costa Children’s Book Award Shortlist
Sally Gardner –‘Maggot Moon’
Diana Hendry – ‘The Seeing’
Hayley Long – ‘What’s Up with Jody Barton?’
Dave Shelton – ‘A Boy and a Bear in a Boat’
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