A collection of sexual fantasies from women around the world, collected and edited by The Crown and X-Files star Gillian Anderson, is among the titles nominated for this year’s prestigious British Book Awards. The London-based actor is shortlisted for Want alongside former PM Boris Johnson, for his political memoirs, and Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy’s autobiography, for non-fiction book of the year, with a second nomination for the year’s best non-fiction audiobook.
Some of the year’s biggest and most critically-acclaimed titles by the likes of Stanley Tucci, Pete Wicks, Susie Dent, Richard Osman and Miranda Hart feature in the 14 shortlists for this year’s Nibbies – celebrating their 35th year and supported by the Daily Express. Literary authors Sally Rooney, Colm Tóibín and Percival Everett are represented, while You Are Here author David Nicholls receives three nominations. A F Steadman, Lynda La Plante and Sophie Kinsella join Nicholls, Everett and Sarah J Maas in the running for the prestigious Author of the Year Nibbie.
Last year’s winners included G T Karber, whose murder mystery puzzle book Murdle won Overall Book of the Year, Katherine Rundell who won Author of the Year and Children’s Author for Impossible Creatures, and Rebecca F. Kuang who took the gong for Fiction Book of the Year for the second year running with Yellowface.
The Daily Express is media partner for the Crime & Thriller category, featuring the first in a brand-new series from Thursday Murder Club author Richard Osman, We Solve Murders; along with Hunted by Abir Mukherjee; Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by married couple Nicci French; All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker; The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas; and Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent.
Express Editor-in-Chief Thomas Hunt said: “We’re thrilled to support such an important celebration of reading and writing in these prestigious awards.”
Chair of judges Philip Jones said: “The British Book Awards shortlists showcase all of the talents: books nurtured by their authors, amplified by their publishers, shepherded by booksellers, and loved by readers. In these lists we see the contours of the year past and of the months to come, we see books that reflect, represent and reveal the world around us. These writers and illustrators thrill, challenge, inform, shock, and entertain in equal measure – I am in total admiration and, yes, awe of the all-hands effort that creates such success.”
The awards, often described as the Baftas of the book trade, were launched in 199o to celebrate authors and illustrators who stirred the hearts and imaginations of the reading public. They are judged by leading industry experts, authors, journalists and celebrities. The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony in London on May 12.