The Waterstones 11

Waterstones have released a list of their 11 most promising young novelists, coining them ‘the literary ones to watch’. The list champions debut authors who are expected to make an impact over the next 12 months.

Writers featured in last year’s list went on to win awards and feature in the best-seller charts: Tea Obrecht (The Tiger’s Wife), Stephen Kelman (Pigeon English) and Sarah Winman (When God Was A Rabbit) all featured.

The list is open to debut authors whose books are published in English, and is not restricted to British-based writers. Eowyn Ivey, author of The Snow Child, works in a bookshop in Alaska.

Janine Cook, chair of the Waterstones 11 selection committee, said: “Is this a golden age of female writing? The presence of eight female writers out of 11 on our list might indicate so. Whatever their gender, this year’s Waterstones 11 have a lot to live up to given the success, both critically and commercially, of last year’s list. But I have no worries on that count - these are all truly wonderful novels.”

The Waterstones 11

Jenni Fagan - The Panopticon

Patrick Falnery - Absolution

Frances Greenslade - Shelter

Chad Harbach - The Art of Fielding

Eowyn Ivey - The Snow Child

Rachel Joyce - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Grace McCleen - The Land of Decoration

Anna Raverat - Signs of Life

Charlotte Rogan - The Lifeboat

Karen Thompson Walker - The Age of Miracles

Will Wiles - Care of Wooden Floors

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