15th November the Costa Book Awards announced the shortlist for 2011, which includes Kerry Young’s new novel Pao. Pao is the story of a young Chinese boy and his family who move to Jamaica escaping the revolution at home. The Costa award is one of the UK’s most prestigious and popular literary prizes and recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year written by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
Kerry Young had a TLC assessment in October 2007 by TLC reader Chris Wakling and says, “the TLC read gave me a completely independent view of the book……not a friend or family member….but somebody completely outside of the process and my emotional journey who could be absolutely honest about the book and my abilities. It was feedback from someone who was really focusing on the work and whose only agenda was to offer constructive criticism that would help me to improve the book. It was fresh, it was honest, it was insightful. It was from someone ‘in the know’ about writing and publishing and that was important also.”
In February 2010 Kerry signed a deal with Bloomsbury. Guardian books describe Kerry “as a gifted new writer. Her novel is a blindingly good read in parts, both for its mesmeric story-telling and the quality of its prose.”
Click here to read the Guardian review of the shortlisted writers. TLC is delighted that Kerry is now working as a reader for TLC. We’re crossing our fingers that this powerful new novel leaves an impression in the minds of the Costa judges.
Click here to see a YouTube clip with Young talking about her new novel.
