Latest news with #Waterstones
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Lucy Steeds wins 2025 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for 'luminous, seductive tale'
North London native, Lucy Steeds, has won the fourth annual Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for her novel The Artist - a sensorial and seductive tale set in 1920s Provence Lucy Steeds has won the 2025 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for her novel The Artist, which has been praised for its 'atmospheric, sensory prose'. The North London author began writing the novel - set in 1920s Provence - while living in France. Described by Waterstones as a 'luminous, seductive tale of art, cruelty and love' the story revolves around three key figures: a renowned and reclusive painter, his unworldly niece with an explosive secret and an aspiring British journalist hoping to make a name for himself. But in the heat of the Provençal summer, tensions between the three come to a head. As the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize winner, Steeds will receive £5,000 and a 'promise of ongoing commitment' to her writing career. The Artist was selected from a shortlist of six books which also featured Confessions by Catherine Airey, Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal, Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter, and When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén. The winner was chosen by a panel of booksellers informed by votes and feedback from more than 650 booksellers from Waterstones shops. Bea Carvalho, Head of Books at Waterstones, says: 'From a shortlist of six stunning books, The Artist stood out for its atmospheric, sensory prose, and its headily evocative sense of time and place.' 'Lucy Steeds is a writer of staggering, rare talent: she is able to conjure vivid brushstrokes, sticky heat, and the smells and tastes of Provence, through words on the page,' says Carvalho. 'This is a gorgeously claustrophobic novel to be fully swept away by: The Artist has something for readers of all tastes and heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice.' Born in North London, Lucy Steeds studied English Literature for her BA and World Literatures for her MA at the University of Oxford. She attended both the Faber Academy and the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Steeds has previously been nominated for the BPA First Novel Award, the Yeovil Literary Prize, the Page Turner Awards and the Moniack Mhor Emerging Writer Award. 'I started writing [The Artist] while I was in France, but I think it's really dangerous of a writer to believe you can only create an environment by being there physically. So I had to - even when I wasn't physically there - encapsulate the essence of what it was,' Steeds shared on The Waterstone Podcast. She says it was by going through 'all the senses' that she was able to write the novel - 'smells and tastes and textures were really important for this book'. Waterstones launched the Debut Fiction Prize in 2022, celebrating the best work of debut fiction written in any form. Previous winners of the prize include Alice Winn and Ferdia Lennon, who won last year for his novel Glorious Exploits, which went on to win the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize and The Authors' Club 2025 best first novel award. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Irish Times
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Lucy Steeds' The Artist wins Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize
In The Irish Times this Saturday, Vona Groarke, the new Ireland Professor of Poetry, talks to Edel Coffey; Peter Guralnick tells Peter Murphy about completing his biographical trilogy with The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World; Breandán Mac Suibhne uncovers the inspirations for some of Brian Friel's characters; and there is a Q&A with writer Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick. Reviews are Paschal Donohoe on Nature Capital: The Value of the World Around Us by Partha Dasgupta and Slow Down or Die: The Economics of Degrowth by Timothee Parrique, translated by Claire Benoit; Andrew Lynch on The Colonialist: The Vision of Cecil Rhodes by William Kelleher Storey; Siobhán Long on Beating Time: the Story of the Irish Bodhrán by Fintan Vallely; Vona Groarke on the best new poetry collections; Miriam Balanescu on Pan by Michael Clune; Emily Formstone on News of the World and An Aran Keening by Andrew McNeillie; Declan Burke on scifi; Ruby Eastwood on Wolf Moon by Arifa Akbar; Paul Gillespie on Etain Tannam's British-Irish Relations in the Twenty-First Century, The Good Friday Agreement, Brexit and the Totality of Relations; Brigid O'Dea on Migraine by Samuel Fisher; Matthew O'Toole on The Root of All Evil by Cormac Moore; and Seamus Martin on The World of the Cold War by Vladislav Zubok. This weekend's Irish Times Eason offer is Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan, just €5.99, a €6 saving. Eason offer Lucy Steeds was named winner of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025 for her novel The Artist, tonight at the Waterstones flagship bookshop in Piccadilly. Set over one sweltering summer during the 1920s, The Artist focuses on an enigmatic painter, the young British journalist set on penning a piece on him, and the artist's seemingly unworldly niece. As the young man sets out to write his piece on the great and terrifying painter, tensions between the three come to a dramatic conclusion. The prize consists of £5,000 and the promise of ongoing commitment to the winner's writing career. Last year's winner, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, shot into the bestseller charts after the announcement and the Irish author went on to be nominated for the Waterstones Book of the Year, the Nero Book Awards, the BAMB fiction award and the Dylan Thomas Prize. The book also featured on the BBC's Between the Covers, won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize and The Authors' Club 2025 Best First Novel Award. Bea Carvalho, Waterstones Head of Books, says: 'It is a great pleasure to announce that Waterstones booksellers have chosen Lucy Steeds as the winner of the 2025 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for her novel The Artist. From a shortlist of six stunning books, The Artist stood out for its atmospheric, sensory prose, and its headily evocative sense of time and place. It is a stylish, elegant treat of a novel which seamlessly transports the reader to sun-soaked southern France, weaving mystery with romance, while delving into the complex nature of artistry. 'Lucy Steeds is a writer of staggering, rare talent: she is able to conjure vivid brushstrokes, sticky heat, and the smells and tastes of Provence, through words on the page. This is a gorgeously claustrophobic novel to be fully swept away by: The Artist has something for readers of all taste and heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice. We can't wait to see what Lucy Steeds does next.' Steeds said: 'My inspirations were twofold: firstly, I was fascinated by the concept of Art Monsters. These tyrannical figures who act abominably to the people around them in order to create great art. I was less interested in the art we've gained from these monsters, and more interested in the art we've lost. What could have been created if these tyrants weren't crushing everyone around them? Secondly, how much colour, texture, smell, and taste was it possible to convey on a page? How intensely could I evoke heat? Was it possible to create a painting using words instead of a brush? I wanted to write a book that felt alive.' Also shortlisted were Confessions by Catherine Airey and Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin. Trinity College Dublin's Icarus magazine launch On August 27th, The Irish Writers Centre will host the launch of Icarus magazine's 75th anniversary issue. Ireland's oldest active arts magazine will celebrate the occasion by featuring work from prominent former contributors and editors, while also promoting the work of Trinity College's brightest student writers and artists. Icarus has been a platform for many notable Irish writers since 1950, with past editors including David Norris, Brendan Kennelly, Derek Mahon, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Vona Groarke, Michael Longley and Sebastian Barry. The magazine has also featured work from Eavan Boland, Seamus Heaney, William Burroughs, Paul Durcan, Thom Gunn, Colm Toibín and Simon Armitage over its long and decorated history. Icarus has appeared frequently in Irish Times coverage, for example, in 1994, David Norris stated 'Icarus was and has remained an important forum for literary talent', speaking to a legacy that continues to be fulfilled. Icarus Issue 75.3 will mark the anniversary by including an exciting variety of new and unseen work by some of the biggest names in Irish writing and poetry, while republishing many of the greatest works contributed by student writers over its history, some of whom went on to define a generation of Irish life and culture. The special edition will, as always, spotlight the most engaging work by current student writers and artists of Trinity College as well. Icarus has always been at the cutting edge of Irish literature, encouraging many students to begin their writing journeys, something the editors, Cat Grogan and Louise Norris, wish to continue with this exciting issue. * Mary O'Malley has been shortlisted for the 2025 Derek Walcott Prize with her collection The Shark Nursery, along with fellow Carcanet authors Gillian Clarke, who is shortlisted with The Silence, and Christine Roseeta Walker with Coco Island. The full shortlist is available here . Honouring the work of St Lucian Nobel Prize poet Derek Walcott, the prize is offered annually for a book of poetry by a non-US citizen published anywhere in the world. It includes a $2,000 honorarium. This year's winner will be announced in October. The judge for this year's award is Ishion Hutchinson. * Literature Ireland and Atelier Samuel Beckett have announced a pilot literature residency for French and Irish artists at Atelier Samuel Beckett, supported by Literature Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in conjunction with the Centre National du Livre in Paris and the Irish Embassy, France. Atelier Samuel Beckett is an artist residency founded by Judy Hegarty Lovett and Conor Lovett, set in a country house on the banks of the river Seine just outside Paris. The shared residency will take place from October 13th until November 7th and includes return travel from Ireland to France, living expenses, and self-catering accommodation. Details on how to apply are here . The closing date for applications is August 20th. * The Banagher Brontë Group, founded in 2023, is hosting the Irish launch of Let Me In: The Brontës in Bricks and Mortar, by Ann Dinsdale and Sharon Wright. Kay Sheehy, recently retired RTÉ Radio 1 presenter and producer, will launch the book. Dinsdale is the principal curator of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, Yorkshire, home of the Brontës, as well as author of many books on the literary family and Sharon Wright is the author of The Mother of the Brontës, the biography of Maria Brontë. The launch, on August 16th, is part of a gala garden party in Charlotte's Way, Banagher, formerly Hill House, home to Arthur Bell Nicholls, husband of Charlotte Brontë. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and included in your ticket is a signed copy of the book, a buffet meal, musical entertainment and a great Brontë day out. The group has a three-day programme of events celebrating the Brontë/Irish connection as part of Heritage Week, August 16th-18th. This festival is a must for Brontë enthusiasts and would be a great introduction for you to the Banagher Brontë Group. If you would like to find out more, visit the website . * The literary strand of Clifden Arts Festival 2025 offers a powerful programme of talks, readings and conversations from 17–28 September in the heart of Connemara. Historian Diarmaid Ferriter reflects on Ireland's transformation since the 1990s in his lecture The Revelation of Ireland 1995–2025. Branding expert John Fanning, former MD of McConnells and UCD lecturer, explores advertising, identity and storytelling in The Making of an Irish Icon: Barry's Tea. Broadcaster John Creedon shares stories from his bestselling memoir This Boy's Heart, while Irish Times GAA columnist Ciarán Murphy presents Old Parish, his witty account of learning hurling later in life. Poetry features strongly with Luke Morgan, winner of the 2025 Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award, Séamus Ruttledge, and guests from Gallery Press. Together, these voices offer insight, humour and reflection—celebrating the richness of Irish experience through the written and spoken word. Full programme and tickets: * The Inchicore Ledwidge Society will celebrate its 30th Anniversary on August 3rd at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge in Dublin. It was founded in 1995 to commemorate the soldier poet from Slane, Co Meath, who joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Richmond Barracks, Inchicore in October 1914. The chairman of the Society has devoted many years to research on the poet and his works. In 1997, he added 66 uncollected poems (20 of which were previously unpublished) and he continues to gather lost poems and other material. The Society also published the prose of Francis Ledwidge for the first time in book form. In addition to the annual wreath laying ceremony and poetry reading, the society has organised an international poetry competition for the past 27 years. * The Irish Writers Centre, Ireland's leading resource for writers, has appointed seven new board members, reflecting a broad mix of expertise across literature, law, business, and the arts. The new appointments come as the Centre enters an ambitious phase of development under CEO Mags McLoughlin. Joining the board are Maria Dickenson, a leading figure in the Irish book trade; BDO Ireland Managing Partner Brian McEnery; barrister Patrick Barrett; creative writing scholar Dr Gráinne Daly; IDA VP Brendan McDonald; leadership expert coach Helen Connealy; and chartered director Anne Fleck-Byrne. They join existing board members Breda Brown, a communications consultant, Áine Denn, a tech entrepreneur, and author and solicitor Rosemary Hennigan. Chair Breda Brown said: 'This is an inspiring group with a shared passion for supporting writers. Their combined expertise will shape the next chapter of our work across the island Ireland.' * Members of Femina Culpa, a Northern Ireland based poetry collective, will be reading at a variety of locations in London between 6 and 9 August. Emma McKervey, Milena Williamson and Linda McKenna have received funding from Culture Ireland towards their readings at the National Poetry Library, Keats House Museum, the Bank of England Museum and Bethlem Museum of the Mind. They will present poems from their most recent collections, published by Turas Press, Dedalus Press and Doire Press, which are inspired by their research into nineteenth century women caught up in the criminal justice system of the past. * Féile an Phobail, the West Belfast festival, kicks off on July 26th and runs till August 10th with a packed programme of craic agus ceol, discussion and debates, theatre, comedy, exhibitions, sports, tours and scores of local events. Danny Morrison will be launching his updated memoir, All The Dead Voices, in Glór na Mona, Ballymurphy, on August 1st. Morrison will also be interviewing Pat Magee (Where Grieving Begins: Building Bridges after the Brighton Bomb) about the representation of Irish republicans in Troubles' fiction, film and drama. Magee's book, Gangsters of Guerrillas?, was based on 480 novels he analysed while serving five life sentences. That discussion will be in the James Connolly Visitor Centre on August 5th. Scribes at the Rock, Rock Bar, on August 7th, features Liz Nugent (in interview); Rosie Schapp reading from The Slow Road North ('A beautiful, unsparing memoir about grief' - Irish Times); and Tim O'Grady on his new novel, Monaghan.
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘A novel to be swept away by': Lucy Steeds wins Waterstones debut fiction prize for The Artist
Lucy Steeds has won the 2025 Waterstones debut fiction prize for her novel The Artist, which has been praised for its 'atmospheric, sensory prose.' Set in an artist's household in 1920s Provence, the novel follows aspiring English journalist Joseph Adelaide, reclusive painter Edouard Tartuffe and his niece Ettie, who has her own hidden artistic ambitions. 'With lavish, luxurious description, Steeds evokes the sensory environment: the smell of hot earth, the sound of crickets, sunlight on soft yellow stones, 'a constellation of fireflies … spreading and regrouping like a net of stars,'' wrote Christobel Kent in a Guardian review of the novel. 'Her characterisation too is vivid and sure-footed: the anguished Joseph, the fiercely determined Ettie, and at the centre of his shadowy lair, the great tortured brute Tata – half Cyclops, half Minotaur – each of them groping towards artistic expression.' Steeds will receive £5,000 and a 'promise of ongoing commitment' to her writing career. The Artist was selected from a shortlist of six books which also featured Confessions by Catherine Airey, Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal, Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter, and When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén. The winner was chosen by a panel of booksellers informed by votes and feedback from more than 650 booksellers from Waterstones shops. Bea Carvalho, head of books at Waterstones, said Steeds' novel 'stood out for its atmospheric, sensory prose, and its headily evocative sense of time and place. 'This is a gorgeously claustrophobic novel to be fully swept away by: The Artist has something for readers of all tastes and heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice. We can't wait to see what Lucy Steeds does next.' Steeds, who is originally from north London, began writing the novel while living in France. Commenting on the inspiration behind the novel, she said she was 'fascinated by the concept of art monsters. These tyrannical figures who act abominably to the people around them in order to create great art. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion 'I was less interested in the art we've gained from these monsters, and more interested in the art we've lost. What could have been created if these tyrants weren't crushing everyone around them?' Waterstones launched the prize in 2022, celebrating the best work of debut fiction written in any form. Previous winners of the prize include Alice Winn and Ferdia Lennon, who won last year for his novel Glorious Exploits, which went on to win the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize and The Authors' Club 2025 best first novel award.
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I've read over 100 books so far in 2025 — these are the five I couldn't put down'
I would describe myself as a lifelong reader, but my passion for books really ramped up in 2024, when I went from reading a book a month to devouring several novels a week. As a new mum at the time, I naturally found myself spending a lot more time at home in the evenings, and having exhausted Netflix, I instead turned to my bookshelf for entertainment. Fast-forward 18 months and while I now have a bit more time on my hands, my favourite evening activity is still sitting down and diving into a good book. So far this year, I've read just over 100 books, including short stories, hefty fantasies and eye-opening memoirs, as well as a healthy dose of romance novels. I always tend to have a physical book on the go at the same time as a Kindle read, but a few books have totally stopped me in my tracks, grabbing my attention and refusing to let go until I reached the final page. Here are five such books I simply couldn't put down. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack. 1. Open Wide by Jessica Gross A young woman becomes so obsessed with her boyfriend she literally climbs inside of him. That's the wild premise of Jessica Gross' latest novel, Open Wide. Radio host Olive has always struggled to connect with people, secretly recording her conversations to decipher social cues. But when one day surgeon Theo turns up for a shift at the food pantry where she volunteers, she finally feels understood and accepted. As their relationship develops, so too does Olive's fascination with the gap between Theo's front teeth, which is just wide enough for something—or someone—to slip inside. I enjoy a bit of weird girl fiction, the more unconventional and eccentric the better. But I was absolutely obsessed with this book, and took it with me everywhere I went. It's so unique, and unpacks themes of intimacy, consent and love in such an interesting way. You can pre-order Open Wide, publishing on August 7, here. 2. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman If you'd told me a couple of years ago that one of my favourite book series of all time would end up being a story about a man and his cat fighting monsters in a dungeon while being broadcast to billions of alien planets, I'd have laughed at you. But having now spent many hours reading all seven books in the series, I can confirm it's a winning formula even for non-gamers with cat allergies. What starts as Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat Princess Donut simply fighting to survive in a video game-style environment quickly grows into something much bigger. This series is ongoing, with the eighth instalment expected next year. The whole series is available on Kindle Unlimited, or you can buy it from Waterstones. I would also highly recommend listening to the audiobook for a truly immersive experience! 3. Inherited Fate by Noémi Orvos-Tóth Fiction will always be my preference, but I still make an effort to read at least one non-fiction book a month. I usually like to take my time with these, reading or listening over the course of a few weeks, but Inherited Fate proved to be the exception to my self-imposed rule. Psychologist Noémi Orvos-Tóth takes you on a journey of self-awareness, explaining how everything from the circumstances of our conception to birth order shapes who we are. She explains how our anxieties and repeated relationship patterns can be traced back to the experiences of our parents, grandparents and even the ancestors we've never met. This is a topic I find fascinating, and I enjoyed the stories Orvos-Tóth shares about her patients and acquaintances. I really only put this book down to voice note friends every time I came across something especially interesting. If you pick up one new non-fiction book this summer, I would recommend this one. You can buy Inherited Fate here. 4. One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford Scientist Kesta's husband Tim was the final person to be infected during a zombie pandemic. With the government appearing to have rounded up and eradicated all infected individuals, the quest for a cure is now underway. However, with her undead husband concealed in her spare room, Kesta has more incentive than most. The cover had me sold before I even read the blurb. But, beyond the wild science and zombies, I was taken aback by the emotional depth within; the love story between Kesta and Tim will make you both smile and feel real heartache for them. I couldn't stop reading, anxiously waiting for something to go disastrously wrong. You can buy One Yellow Eye here. 5. The Martian by Andy Weir I am a big fan of science fiction, with Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir becoming a particular favourite in the genre earlier this year. But after receiving The Martian as a gift, I was initially reluctant to read it. As anyone who has seen the film adaptation starring Matt Damon will know, the main character spends a lot of time alone, and I was nervous about reading a book with so little dialogue. For the uninitiated, The Martian follows Mark Watney, an astronaut who finds himself stranded on Mars after a fierce storm, who must use his ingenuity as well as his botanical and engineering knowledge to survive and signal Earth for rescue. I needn't have worried about reading this book, as Mark's narration (via the medium of diary entries) is hugely entertaining, and a good chunk of the book is dedicated to the teams working on Earth to bring Mark home, as well as his fellow astronauts.
The Standard
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Standard
You're a TV star, Harry: Potter series to debut in 2027
A child holds a copy of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," at Waterstone's bookshop in central London 21 June, 2003 REUTERS/Sinead Lynch
