Quote of the day

"This is an extraordinary first novel - bold, original, tragic and endlessly surprising. In its exploration of frozen landscapes, both interior and exterior, and in its precisely detailed and articulated fantasy, it is possible to see a substantial author of the future."

Congratulations to my old mate Ali Shaw, who last Wednesday scooped the £10,000 Desmond Elliott Prize. The Girl With Glass Feet was long-listed for the Guardian's First Book Award and subsequently nominated for the Costa First Novel Award, so it's very definitely a case of third time lucky.