Books of the Year FICTION
WINNER
RESERVOIR 13 JON MCGREGOR FOURTH ESTATE
McGregor’s dazzling novel about a missing girl was his first with Fourth Estate, which acquired the book after his editor, Helen Garnons-Williams, joined the company from Bloomsbury. The publisher was determined that the novel would be an “event publication” rather than a “quiet literary success”, and started by reaching out to authors, bloggers and influencers. McGregor took centre stage at HarperCollins’ Independent Booksellers event and was interviewed by the Guardian and “Open Book”, his publisher also sold signed and customised hardbacks directly from its own website. The coup de grâce was, however, when Radio 4 commissioned
McGregor to write a series of 15 short stories based on the novel, to be broadcast in the autumn. The “Reservoir Tapes” ensured that the publicity—and sales—rolled on throughout the year. Garnons-Williams said: “We wanted to give Reservoir 13 the stellar publication it deserved, to enter it for every possible prize and really break Jon out to a wider market.” The Fiction Book of the Year judges believed that Fourth Estate
achieved its aims, saying: “They set out exactly what they wanted to do: bring his work to a wider readership, reverse his declining sales and win a major prize. McGregor was sliding towards the midlist and they have pushed him back up.”
SHORTLIST
THE BREAK MARIAN KEYES MICHAEL JOSEPH The Break, written in Keyes’ 22nd year as a published author, was one of her most well received and reviewed books.
BIRDCAGE WALK HELEN DUNMORE HUTCHINSON/WINDMILL Birdcage Walk was a bestseller in Waterstones and on the Sunday Times paperback chart.
WINTER ALI SMITH HAMISH HAMILTON Hamish Hamilton published Winter in record time, releasing a cloth-bound hardback only two months after the manuscript was delivered.
HOW TO STOP TIME MATT HAIG CANONGATE Sales of Haig’s fiction bestseller stand at over 150,000 to date and Benedict Cumberbatch’s production company has acquired the film rights.
CITY OF FRIENDS JOANNA TROLLOPE MANTLE Mantle repositioned Trollope to appeal beyond her established fanbase and put the author back at the top of the bestseller lists.
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THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS WINNERS 2018
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