2008 longlist announced

London, 18 March 2008: The Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman, today announces the 2008 longlist. Now in its thirteenth year, the Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing.

“There were lots of big names in contention this year and stiff competition for places on the longlist,” commented Kirsty Lang, Chair of Judges, “so we were surprised and excited to find so many new voices that fought their way through.”

She continues, “There is a great balance on this list, not only in its international reach and range of human experience, but also between first novels and some established writers that haven’t perhaps had the recognition they deserved.”

The Prize was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible and is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman in the English language.

“The Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction remains committed to bringing women's fiction to a wider, younger and more varied range of readers,” said Hattie Magee, Head of Partnerships at Orange. “It is great to be announcing such a fantastic list that reflects the incredible range of international fiction that is available to readers today. To find our more about this years longlist visit www.orangeprize.co.uk”

This year’s longlist honours both new and well-established writers, featuring seven first novels alongside a former Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction winner; Linda Grant, who took the prize in 2000 for When I Lived in Modern Times. Three authors appearing on this year’s list have previously been longlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, and Rose Tremain was shortlisted in 2004.

Any woman writing in English, whatever her nationality, country of residence, age or subject matter, is eligible. The winner will receive a cheque for £30,000 and a limited edition bronze known as a ‘Bessie’, created and donated by the artist Grizel Niven. Both are anonymously endowed.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in The Ballroom at the Royal Festival Hall on 4 June.

Previous winners are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Half of a Yellow Sun (2007), Zadie Smith for On Beauty (2006), Lionel Shriver for We Need to Talk About Kevin (2005), Andrea Levy for Small Island (2004), Valerie Martin for Property (2003), Ann Patchett for Bel Canto (2002), Kate Grenville for The Idea of Perfection (2001), Linda Grant for When I Lived in Modern Times (2000), Suzanne Berne for A Crime in the Neighbourhood (1999), Carol Shields for Larry’s Party (1998), Anne Michaels for Fugitive Pieces (1997), and Helen Dunmore for A Spell of Winter (1996).
www.orangeprize.co.uk


ENDS
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For more information or to speak to the 2008 Chair of Judges, Kirsty Lang, please contact:

Press Enquiries
Amanda Johnson at M&C Saatchi:
Tel: 020 7543 4580 or 07715 922 180
Email: amanda.johnson@mcsaatchi.com

Or

CJ Stanley, Orange
Tel: 07989 333 308
Email: cj.stanley@orange-ftgroup.com

Notes to Editors

This year’s list carries three American authors, nine British authors, one Australian author, one American/Iranian author, one Turkish author, one Indian author, one Irish author, one South African author and two Canadian authors.
The following author has previously won the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction: Linda Grant (2000).
The following author has previously been shortlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction: Rose Tremain (2004).
The following authors have previously been longlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction: Stella Duffy (2004), Linda Grant (1997), Gail Jones (2006).
There are seven first novels on the 2008 longlist.
About Orange
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In June, 2006, Orange became the single brand for mobile, broadband and multi-play offers. In addition, Orange Business Services became the new banner for business communications solutions. Orange Business Services is present in 166 countries with network reach in 220.

In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK population. At the end of December 2007, Orange had over 16.8 million customers in the UK – 15.6 million active mobile customers and nearly 1.14 million broadband customers.

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For further information, call the Orange press office on 0870 373 1500 or email: Orangepr@golinharris.com .