More Literature news: January-March, April-May, Jun-July

1.New Writing 15

This month's New Writing 15 website is now live. One theme for this month's focus is Clothes, which offers an insight into different cultures, histories and imaginations that are revealed through the clothing that people wear.

In Rahat Kurd's autobiographical piece 'A Memoir of Modest Appearances' the hajib is explored in terms of its cultural, literary and feminist significance. Kurd's informative and intriguing points, linking the writing of A. S. Byatt with the political notions of the hajib are fascinating and Kurd's good-natured bewilderment keeps the piece of lively and engaging.

Sharmistha Mohanty's short but profound description of the organic development of the sari in 'The Sari', conveys a huge amount about the history and cultural background of India, spanning social mores, the growth of the Mughal Empire, the changing status of women and even the climate. Mohanty's prose is crisp and elegant, revealing much about the changing status of women while ostensibly discussing clothing.

Adam Marek's short story 'Batman vs the Bull', is a profound piece of imaginative writing that is a combination of surreal storytelling, horror story, rites of passage and a bold take on the idea of 'clothes maketh the man..' It tells the story of Casey, a young boy who is keen to win a party prize by collecting as much rubbish as possible. While on his quest, he encounters a disturbing character who quickly takes on the mythical figure of a bull, in a tense and frightening story.

The other theme for this month's focus is Writers on Writing, which examines the inner workings of a writer's mind as two authors discuss the highs and lows of what it takes to be a writer.

Ursula Holden's account of her writing career is inspirational and a homage to her strength and determination. She sent her first novel to over 40 publishers without finding a home for it; her second novel was accepted by Carcanet Press but lack of money prevented publication and it was only when her work was finally picked up by the late Alan Ross of London Magazine that she was finally published. 'Write at Your Own Peril' is an engaging and powerful piece of writing that combines personal memoir with the joys and pains of writing for a living.

Ma Jian left China, uncomfortable at the level of censorship he encountered there. He found Hong Kong to be a city in which he could write freely without losing the inspiration he gained in China. However, when Hong Kong was returned to the Chinese in 1997 his discomfort returned, forcing him to move to the West, far from the people, colours and smells that stimulated his work. His piece 'A Chinese Writer in London' describes the issues he has to confront to continue his work.

2.O'Brien Breaks Poetry Record

Sean O'Brien has pulled off an unprecedented third victory in the Forward prize, cementing his place as a Forward favourite by winning the £10,000 prize for best collection with The Drowned Book. Daljit Nagra, who won the prize for best single poem in 2004, has gone on to win the £5,000 prize for best first collection. This year's £1,000 prize for best single poem goes to Alice Oswald.
For more information please click here.

3.Blue Peter shortlists unveiled

Macmillan Children's Books and Random House Children's Books have carved up the Blue Peter Children's Book Award shortlists between them, with four Macmillan titles represented and three from RHCB. The award also considers novels that have been paperbacked in the last year, so titles including Framed (Frank Cottrell Boyce) and The Outlaw Varjak Paw (SF Said) are featured. The final winners will be voted for by a panel of children and will be confirmed in a Blue Peter show due to be broadcast in late November. The shortlist categories are as follows: The Most Fun Story with Pictures, Best Book with Facts, The Book I Couldn't Put Down.
For more information please click here.

4.2008 National Year of Reading

Early plans are being unveiled for the 2008 National Year of Reading, which will include another set of books in the Quick Reads series. The National Literary Trust and The Reading Agency have been appointed by the Government to manage the project, which will include input from other organisations committed to promoting reading. Next year's event comes ten years after it was launched to encourage as many people as possible to read.

Although still in the planning stages, some of the initiatives have been mapped out. These include more Quick Reads, which have been helpful in attracting reluctant readers, a new website will launch in March 2008 where teenagers will be invited to share their reading passions and it will set a book challenge for adult learners encouraging them to read any six books of their choice. For further information please click here.

Britain's richest poetry awards yesterday choose by far the youngest poet in their history as a finalist for their most sought-after prize. He is Luke Kennard, 26, whose book of verse The Harbour Beyond the Movie is shortlisted for the £10,000 Forward prize for the year's best collection. For more about the prize please click here.

Full Shortlist

Best collection prize (£10,000)

Domestic Violence by Eavan Boland (Carcanet)
Gift Songs by John Burnside (Jonathan Cape)
The Drowned Book by Sean O'Brien (Picador)
Birds with a Broken Wing by Adam Thorpe (Jonathan Cape)
The Harbour Beyond the Movie by Luke Kennard (Salt Publishing)
Beasts of Nalunga by Jack Mapanje (Bloodaxe)

Best first collection prize (£5,000)

Twenty Four Preludes and Fugues on Dimitri Shostakovich by Joanna Boulter (Arc Publications)
Galatea by Melanie Challenger (Salt Publishing)
Look We Have Coming to Dover! by Daljit Nagra (Faber and Faber)
Andraste's Hair by Eleanor Rees (Salt Publishing)

Best single poem prize (£1,000)

The Hut in Question by David Harsent (Poetry Review)
Thursday by Lorraine Mariner (The Rialto)
Dunt by Alice Oswald (Poetry London)
The Day I Knew I Wouldn't Live Forever by Carole Satyamurti (The Interpreter's House)
Goulash by Myra Schneider (The North)
The Birkdale Nightingale by Jean Sprackland (Poetry Review)

5.The Booktrust Early Years Awards Shortlist Announced

Booktrust have announced the 2007 shortlist for the Early Years Awards. The shortlisted books all exemplify the remarkable creativity in words, design and illustration necessary to encourage young children into reading. The winner for each category will be announced in an awards ceremony in London on the evening of 27 September 2007. For full shortlist please click here.

6.Prolific war author dies aged 80

One of the country’s most successful authors who wrote more than 350 books under a variety of pen names has died aged 80 in his native city of York. Charles Whiting, who also wrote under the pseudonyms Leo Kessler, Duncan Harding and John Kerrigan, sold millions of copies of war thrillers. Along with the fictional works he was also a keen historian and the author of many factual works. He leaves a widow Gill, a son and grandchildren.
For more information please click here.

7.Travel writer’s body found on Chinese mountain

One of Lonely Planet’s most experienced travel writers, Clem Lindenmayer, has been found dead on a Chinese mountainside, three months after he was reported missing. Mr Lindenmayer, 47, had set out to climb Mount Gongga, in a remote area of south-west China, telling his family that he expected to complete a circuit in six days. China’s official Xinhua news agency reported yesterday that villagers had found his body last Thursday.
For more information please click here.

8.International showcase for performance practice in Wales

International audiences have some of the best contemporary performance artists from Wales presented to them at the acclaimed Edinburgh Showcase this August.

Not only will audiences enjoy performances by innovative and challenging artists, they will also be able to learn more about the latest developments in performance practice in Wales with the launch of Wales Arts International's publication Platfform 3/tri.

Platfform 3/tri is the third edition of a series of publications which explores contemporary performance practice in Wales. It provokes thought about the marking and documenting of artistic work in Wales as well as raising themes of memory and the remembering of past artistic acts - which throw into question what is really known and retained.

The publication features: Simon Whitehead; Heike Roms in conversation with Ivor Davies; Nia Roberts in conversation with Awst & Walther; articles by Philip Babot on André Stitt; James Tyson on Sioned Huws; Richard Gough interviewed by Melissa Thompson; David Adams writing about the theatre and memory and text extracts from Acqua Nero by Meredydd Barker.

Ceri Jones, Head of Projects at Wales Arts International said, 'Our platform series of publications was first launched at Edinburgh Showcase back in 2003, this new edition is published in time to fall into the hands of the crowds of international promoters that attend Showcase. Together with the artists from Wales programmed at Showcase, Platfform will offer a dynamic representation of vibrant, contemporary performance practice in Wales'.

This year's performances at the Edinburgh Showcase include a new production by Volcano Theatre Company and a presentation by performance artist Eddie Ladd, recently commissioned by the Royal Opera House.

Written by the Welsh poet Robert Minhinnick, Volcano Theatre Company's 'A few Little Drops - The Extraordinary Life of water' tells the story of water, a story of waste and disaster, but also one of cleansing, refreshment, generosity and hope. The production that has recently toured Wales, is staged in a spectacular outdoor structure.

'Cof y corff/muscle memory' by one of Wales' most original and exhilarating solo performance artist, Eddie Ladd, is a choreographic piece which tries to re-connect with significant moments in Welsh History. Ladd's performance presentation in Edinburgh will offer a provocative introduction to the impetus and processes that shape the production.

Also included in the Showcase from Wales are performance artists Good Cop Bad Cop and Gerald Tyler who will be represented as part of the Trade Fair aiming to establish links with major programmers and to develop collaborative with potential theatres and festivals from around the world. This follows the success of Cardiff's internationally recognised contemporary circus, NoFit State Circus, who have been touring their award winning production 'Immortal' internationally for the last two years after establishing relationships at the Showcase in 2005.

9.The Caine Prize

Crossing Borders participant Monica Arac de Nyeko beat four other finalists to get the £10,000 Caine Prize for her story Jambula Tree. It is about a relationship between young girls in a country where homosexuality is illegal. The Caine Prize, announced in Oxford on Monday night, is considered a major award in African creative writing. The other writers on the shortlist were: Uwem Akpan (Nigeria) for My Parents' Bedroom, E. C. Osondu (Nigeria) for Jimmy Carter's Eyes, Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa) for Bad Places and Ada Udechukwu (Nigeria) for Night Bus. Last year, South Africa's Mary Watson was the 7th winner of the Caine Prize. For more information about the Caine Prize please click here.

10.Wales Book of the Year

At a special award ceremony held in Cardiff's Hilton Hotel on Monday 9th July, the winners of this year's Wales Book of the Year were announced:

Llwyd Owen won the Welsh language 2006 Book of the Year prize for Ffydd Gobaith Cariad (Y Lolfa) and Lloyd Jones, Mr Cassini (Seren) was named as English language 2007 Book of the Year. On an exceptional short list, the other contenders for the prizes were T Robin Chapman Un Bywyd o Blith Nifer (Gwasg Gomer) and Gwen Pritchard Jones Dygwyl Eneidiau (Gwasg Gwynedd) for the Welsh language and Christine Evans, Growth Rings (published by Seren) and Jim Perrin, The Climbing Essays (The In Pinn) in the English language.

The Welsh language prize judges were John Rowlands, Gwion Hallam, and Elinor Jones and the judges of the English language prize were Patrick McGuinness, Katie Gramich and Carolyn Hitt. The annual Wales Book of the Year is organised by Academi, the body responsible for promoting literature in Wales, with support from the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Books Council. Further information: www.academi.org

11.Literary world applauds Rushdie knighthood

Salman Rushdie has amassed for himself a fair number of distinctions over the years, among them the Booker of Bookers prize, the Whitbread novel award (twice), the James Tait Black memorial prize, and a fatwa from the Ayatollah Khomeini calling for his immediate assassination. On Friday, however, came the big one: a knighthood recognising the services to literature of one of the world's most lauded - and most divisive - literary grandees.
Please click here for the full story.

12.Society of Authors announces awards

Awards were presented by Philip Pullman at the annual Authors Awards, hosted by the Society of Authors this week, when a total of £69,000 in prize money was given to 21 writers. Award winners included James Scudamore for The Amnesia Clinic and Reina James for This Time of Dying.
Please click here for more information about the awards and full list of winners.

13.British Fantasy Awards

Novelist Simon Clark has managed to get himself longlisted twice for this year's British Fantasy Award, Best Novel (The August Derleth Fantasy Award). London Under Midnight, published by Severn House, and Death's Dominion, Published by Robert Hale both make it onto the list.
For more information about the awards please click here.

14.Man Booker International judges honour Chinua Achebe

The £60,000 Man Booker International prize goes today to the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe beating formidable shortlist including Carlos Fuentes and Doris Lessing. In choosing to give the award to a man who is regularly described as the father of modern African literature, the judges have signalled that this new global Booker has achieved the status of an authentic world award in only its second contest. Click here for the full story.

15.The new Children’s laureate for 2007-2008

The new Children’s laureate for 2007-2008 was announced yesterday as the poet and novelist Michael Rosen. He takes over from Jacqueline Wilson as the fifth children's laureate. The role, which lasts for two years, is awarded to a children's writer or illustrator to celebrate immense achievement in their field.
Rosen is the author of over 140 books and is best known for his collections of humorous verse for children. He has written picture books and is a familiar voice on radio as the presenter of Radio 4's linguistics programme, Word of Mouth. One of Rosen’s plans for his new role is to create a website on which children can share ideas about poetry. He is also committed to use his role to bring poetry to as many children as possible. His overall theme is Diverse Verse for all.
For more information please click here.

16.Peter Temple wins the Duncan Lawrie Dagger

The Broken Shore by Peter Temple wins the Duncan Lawrie Dagger - formerly the CWA Gold Dagger for Fiction - with a prize of £20,000. This is now the largest award for crime fiction in the world. Peter said: 'It's a huge thrill to win the Duncan Lawrie Dagger for The Broken Shore. You're up against some of the world's best crime writers in English. I was proud enough just to be the first Aussie to make the shortlist, let alone win.' For more information please click here.

17.Jonathan Cape launches graphic novel prize

Jonathan Cape, in association with the Observer and the annual ICA Comica Festival, is launching a graphic novel short story prize to 'celebrate and promote the art of the graphic novel and offer a platform for the graphic novelists of the future to emerge'. The competition's winner will receive £1,000 and publication in the Observer, as well as featuring at the ICA in October. The runner-up will receive £250. A feature will run in the newspaper next Sunday, and the closing date for entries is 14 October. For more information please click here .