Francesca Kay wins the 2009 Orange Award for New Writers

19.00, London, 3 June 2009: British debut author Francesca Kay has won the 2009 Orange Award for New Writers with her novel An Equal Stillness (Weidenfeld & Nicolson).

Chair of Judges, Mishal Husain, presented the £10,000 bursary, provided by Arts Council England, to the author at the Orange Prize for Fiction awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.

Mishal Husain, Chair of Judges said: “Francesca Kay’s achievement in this astonishing debut novel is to use her words as a paintbrush, rendering the art and life of a brilliant artist, Jennet Mallow, in vivid colours on the page.”

She continues,” This is a story of genius amid domesticity that will resonate with readers on a fundamental level.  We’re thrilled to recommend this book and are excited to see what Francesca Kay does next.”

Launched in 2005 as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for the Orange Prize for Fiction, the emphasis of the Orange Award for New Writers is on emerging talent and the evidence of future potential.

All first works of fiction – including novels, short story collections and novellas, written in English by a woman of any age or nationality and published as a book in the UK – are eligible.  First time authors can be entered for both the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Orange Award for New Writers in any one year.