First among equals?

Two weeks ago, I concluded a quick post about my friend Ali's book The Girl With Glass Feet having been nominated for a British Book Design and Production Award by saying: "Given the glowing review the novel garnered in the Guardian, hopefully the award nominations for Ali's writing will follow".

Well, lo and behold, look who's just been named as one of the ten nominees for the paper's prestigious First Book Award, to be judged by a panel including John Gray and Tobias Hill and worth £10,000 to the winner.

Congratulations to Ali - and good luck.

Link: Guardian literary editor Claire Armitstead discusses the nominations with Nicholas Wroe and Sarah Crown