Five Swansea University Authors Shortlisted For The Wales Book Of The Year 2016

Four academics from Swansea University’s College of Arts and Humanities, and the College’s Professor in Creativity, Owen Sheers, have been shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year 2016, it was announced today (19 May). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The authors have been shortlisted in the following categories: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• I Saw a Man, Owen Sheers – The Rhys Davies Fiction Award
• Wales Unchained, Professor Daniel Williams – The Open University in Wales Creative Non-Fiction Award
• Losing Israel, Dr Jasmine Donahaye – The Open University in Wales Creative Non-Fiction Award
• Norte, Jon Gower – Welsh-language Fiction Award
• Pam Na Fu Cymru, Dr Simon Brooks -The Open University in Wales Welsh-language Creative Non-Fiction Award

Following the announcement, Lleucu Siencyn, Chief Executive of Literature Wales said: “We are extremely proud that the Wales Book of the Year Award can promote the richness and diversity of contemporary Welsh literature. The 2016 Short List is proof, if proof was needed that the writers of Wales continue to make their mark on the world’s literary map.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On the English-language judging panel this year are writer and lecturer Tony Brown; Associate Editor with The Bookseller, Caroline Sanderson, and Director for Wales of the National Trust, Justin Albert. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh-language judging panel for 2016 are writer Lleucu Roberts, lecturer and poet Llion Roberts, and BBC Radio 1 and Radio Cymru DJ Huw Stephens. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor John Spurr, head of the College of Arts and Humanities, welcomed the news: “The College of Arts and Humanities is delighted that once again its writers of fiction and non-fiction in both Welsh and English have been shortlisted for these prestigious prizes. We are proud of our colleagues for the sheer range of their writing and its contribution to Welsh cultural life. Good luck to them all!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The winners will be announced at an Award Ceremony held in The Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil on Thursday 21 July. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​