27 October 2013

Publishing success for Dundee International Book Prize Nominees

Three of the shortlisted titles for the 2013 Dundee International Book Prize have already been picked up by publishers, confirming the exceptional standards of the works which competed for the UK's most lucrative award for debut novelists.

Irish writer Nicola White was unveiled last week as the winner of the 2013 Dundee International Book Prize for her book In The Rosary Garden, a crime thriller inspired by a notorious true case of infanticide in Ireland in the 1980s.

Nicola received a cash prize of £ 10,000 and a publishing deal with leading UK independent Cargo Publishing.

Now two others who were on the shortlist of 12 books have seen their work picked up by publishers on the back of this year's competition.

Paul Beaumont's A Brief Eterniy is to be published by Dangerous Little Books, while Falling Fast by Neil Broadfoot has been picked up by Saraband.

Joe Gregory, of Dangerous Little Books, said, "We're delighted and proud to be publishing Paul Beaumont's debut novel. As a small independent publisher, our books always benefit from critical endorsements and the achievement of Paul's book being short-listed for the Dundee International Book Prize will be of immense benefit in our promotional efforts."

Sara Hunt, from Saraband, said, "I'm delighted to be publishing Neil's action-packed debut, Falling Fast. Its pace is as fast as its victim's fall, and his fresh and feisty crime-busting duo deserve to be the next favourites on Scotland's unstoppable noir scene. It's great to see the Dundee International Book Prize coming up with so much talent."

Anna Day, Director of Literary Dundee, said, "It is fantastic that these shortlisted books have been recognised by publishers - it shows that the standard of entries for the prize has just got better and better each year. I can't wait to see these brilliant novels in a bookshop soon."

More than 350 entries were received from around the world for this year's prize, with the longlist containing novels set in Iran, South Africa, Romania, Japan, Puerto Rico and Dublin and authors coming from as far afield as Texas and Japan. The judging panel included TV personality Lorraine Kelly, actor Brian Cox and Costa Prize-winning novelist AL Kennedy.

The Dundee International Book prize is a joint venture between the "Dundee - One City, Many Discoveries" initiative, Cargo Publishing and the University of Dundee.

The Prize was first awarded in 2000 and since then has grown in stature to become one of the UK's most prestigious literary awards and the largest cash prize for debut authors.

A Brief Eternity by Paul Beaumont to be published by Dangerous Little Books dangerouslittlebooks.com/

Falling Fast by Neil Broadfoot to be published by Saraband www.saraband.net/

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