A NETHERTHONG author has been shortlisted for two prestigious prizes in the world of literature.
Annabel Pitcher, who appeared as a guest speaker at the Examiner Literary Luncheon earlier this month, has been shortlisted for a Galaxy National Book Award and the coveted Dylan Thomas Prize.
Her children’s book, My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece, sparked a bidding war between UK and US agents when it was first released and consequently the rights were sold in 15 countries.
The ex-Greenhead College student is now one in five authors nominated in the Dylan Thomas Prize, which is one of the world’s highest paying literary awards for young writers.
The winner, who will be announced early in November, will take home £30,000.
Annabel’s competition includes a New York-based novelist, an Orange Prize for Fiction winner, Canadian poet and an Irish-born novelist.
She said: “I am very excited about the whole thing, but also very shocked.
“It is amazing to be published let alone be shortlisted for prizes among authors that I really admire.
“It is really quite strange to be considered in the same category as them.
“I am looking forward to buying a nice dress and to go and have my hair done and go to a nice party.”
Annabel’s inspiration for My Sister Lives On The Mantelpiece came from a film she watched about 9/11.
Told through the voice of young Jamie Matthews, the novel captures a 10-year-old’s struggle to make sense of an act of terrorism that has torn his family apart.
She has also been nominated in the Children’s Book of the Year category and Audiobook of the year in the Galaxy National Book Awards – with Doctor Who actor David Tennant having done the voice-over for her novel.
Although the novel initially came out in March, the paperback copy was only released last week.
She is no stranger to nominations however, having recently been shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s book of the Year prize.
Despite book tours taking her around the world, including New York and Spain, she said her life has not changed too much and she is looking forward to reading the other authors’ work.
She is currently working on her second children’s novel, Ketchup Clouds.
