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Fastsellers of previous year announced
A list of the top-selling 100 paperback titles, including only those published for the first time in paperback, published in The Guardian and The Bookseller.
Whitbread Prize winners announced
Launched in 1971 by a brewery and leisure firm, the Whitbread series of prizes are awarded for Best First Novel, Best Novel, Best Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book. An overall winner from these categories is then picked to win the main Whitbread Prize.
January 23rd: Burns Night
Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years as a means of commemorating the poet Robert Burns. The ritual was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory.
Storytelling Week
A week to mark the revival of storytelling for adults as well as children. Fireside tales, folk tales, urban myth and contemporary stories are performed.
Orange Prize longlist announced
Sponsored by the Orange mobile telephone company, this promotion celebrates writing by women.
Commonwealth Writers Prizewinner announced – Commonwealth Day
A prize for the best fiction, poetry and non-fiction from the Commonwealth.
The British Book Awards (The Nibbies)
A trade award, sponsored by W H Smith. Various categories of prize include a children’s book award, illustrated book, biography, film and TV books, audiobook and newcomer. A wide variety of awards that normally feature bestsellers and chartoppers.
Shortlist of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
This is the most financially valuable literary prize in the world (100,000 euro). The shortlist is selected by votes from participating libraries from around the world. It was won last year by Michel Houellebecq.
International Children’s Book Day
Gives an opportunity to look at the very wide range of writing for children. From classics to contemporary work, illustrated work to graphic novels, the range is very large and the crossover with adult reading sometimes quite wide.
Carnegie/Greenaway Medal shortlist and awards
Two prizes that are awarded to the best children’s book of the year, and the best illustrated children’s book. There is always an involvement with children’s librarians who help nominate the shortlist, and a shadow system that gives groups of young readers the opportunity to nominate and award their own prize.
Orange Prize winner announced
Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction announced
A prize sponsored by the BBC to highlight the best of current affairs, popular science, biography, travel and writing about the arts. At £30,000, it’s the richest prize for non-fiction writing in the UK.
Greenaway/Carnegie Medal winner announced
ManBooker Prize ‘longlist’ published
The Booker prize is awarded to one book only and is the subject of many promotions in English libraries, principally to involve readers in nominating their own suggestions. A position on the longlist can increase sales and a win can make an author famous as well as a publisher. A panel of independent judges read a great many books in order to decide a longlist, a shortlist and then a final winner.
Black History Month
An important month for celebrating home-grown Black British writers.
Booker Prize winner announced
Nobel Prize for Literature announced
National Poetry Day
A national celebration of poetry that uses public places like the Underground to get poetry off the page and into posters or performance.
Make a Noise in Libraries Week
A week to highlight access to libraries and books for disabled people.
Guardian First Book Award winner announced
An award that often picks up those books that nearly won other big prizes.
by Rachel Van Riel of Opening the Book
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