Conville & Walsh

Conville and Walsh is delighted to report that Ali Shaw has been nominated on the longlist for the University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize.

Shaw’s debut novel, The Girl With Glass Feet, has since publication received nominations for the Costa First Book Award and the Guardian First Book Award, and won the Desmond Elliott prize and the British Book Design and Production Award.

The prize will be judged by Peter Florence; Kate Burton, daughter of actor Richard Burton; Kurt Heinzelman, Professor of English at the University of Texas, a founding Board member of the Dylan Thomas Prize and a judge in both 2006 and 2008; Cardiff-born Gwyneth Lewis, the award winning poet and writer, who was named as the first National Poet of Wales (2005-6); Bruno Maddox, novelist and former reviewer for The New York Times and Editor-in-chief of Spy magazine; Natalie Moody, Chair of charitable organisation the Howard Gilman Foundation and Professor Peter Stead, Prize founder, historian, renowned broadcaster and cultural commentator.

Professor Peter Stead, founder of the Dylan Thomas prize, said: ‘The calibre of these sixteen works is outstanding. This unique Prize was established to celebrate young, talented writers worldwide and these works aptly showcase the excellence of creative writing that exists across the entire English-speaking world. This award honours a truly great writer who died while still a young man and I am sure it will be a great encouragement to talented young writers everywhere.’

The University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist will be announced in September. For more information about Dylan Thomas and related events, please visit the official website.