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Island Life, Word Birds & Process
Last year it was loudly promulgated, by the few who can never resist, that nominations for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize were largely the result of in-house publishing/author nepotism. There’s a trickle this year too and it’s silly. Occasional irresponsible lapses notwithstanding, the idea that I would nominate a book by one of my sister Honno authors just because she’s published by Honno makes me itch.
I nominated Not Thomas by Sara Gethin before I realised other people had. As a single nomination secures a place on the NTBP longlist and other people had already picked everyone else on my list I tried to ‘cancel’ my vote (you can’t delete it), spread my net wider and nominate See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt and The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engels both of which I adored. (I don’t know either of these authors so no one can accuse me of bias.)
In truth, I wouldn’t care if they did. Not Thomas was top of my list purely because it’s a beautiful book: an extraordinary story which deserves to win prizes. There was no partiality. I simply love the book and I’m proud to be published by a press with such discerning taste!
My list of possible nominations included Su Bristow’s exquisite Sealskin
and Maria in the Moon by Louise Beech, both published by Orenda Books a publishing house for which I have a huge regard. Each of these authors has endorsed my forthcoming novel, Snow Sisters. Does that make my choices in some way reciprocal back-scratching? The Wild Air by Rebecca Mascull was on my list too – she gave me a wonderful quote for my first novel, Ghostbird. Does that constitute some form of sycophantic favouritism? Not in my view. All it means is I’m fortunate to know a bunch of brilliant, generous writers!
Pish and twaddle, frankly. And all things in my world being eminently equal – the very best of luck to everyone nominated for this fun prize. In particular, my favourites!
Making it up as I go along 
I agree that ‘Not Thomas’ deserves all the accolades that have and will come its way. I so hope Sara’s wonderful book does well tomorrow. 🍀🍀🍀
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It’s on the longlist! How cool is that? xXx
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Carol, there was no need for you to explain yourself here. I know, as anyone who has read Not Thomas, that this is a book that will fly. That it’s published by our own publishers is totally irrelevant. We nominated as we wanted. Free choice. Ignore any murmurings. Fingers crossed for Sara tomorrow. x
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Not so much explaining myself, lovely as pointing out, we’re all in it together! xXx
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Thank you for your lovely comments, Carol – and for wanting to nominate Not T. I’ve loved following the NTBP over the last few years and it feels very special, not to mention exciting, to be on the longlist – as long as I qualify tomorrow.
I really was interested to see the other titles you’ve mentioned too. I’ve fancied reading ‘The Roanoke Girls’ for a while now, and the fact that you say you’ve enjoyed it so much means I’ll definitely buy it soon. That’s the point of this particular award really, isn’t it? It says – go on, give that book a try.
And the fact that everyone has to vote for two books in the following round should balance things out and dispel any claims of nepotism.
Thanks again!
from (a little bit excited) Sara x
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The thing that stunned me about it last year was being on a list with one of my literary sheros, Edna O’Brien! It was surreal & I’m still metaphorically dining out on that little moment! It’s a fun prize but with an added frisson when you see *your* book picked over all the others that could have been chosen.
‘The Roanoke Girls’ is disturbing but stunning… And ‘See What I have Done’ is deliciously creepy!
Best of luck, cariad… All the prizes… xXx
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