Tara M. Stringfellow and Eloghosa Osunde are on the shortlist for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize announced on July 21, 2022.
Waterstones is a British book retailer that operates hundreds of shops, mainly in the United Kingdom and also other nearby countries. This year, they introduced The Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize to celebrate exceptional first novels which would be voted for by its booksellers.
The shortlist of six novels for the new award, selected from 160 debut novels, was revealed on Thursday, July 21. The following writers of African descent made the cut;
- Vagabonds!, Eloghosa Osunde
- Memphis, Tara M. Stringfellow
Eloghosa Osunde said of the shortlist, “Thankful to @waterstones for shortlisting VAGABONDS! for their inaugural debut fiction prize. To booksellers who made this happen by voting in great numbers and stirring momentum, it’s a blessing to have written a book you love. Thankful to readers for asking for this book nonstop in bookstores the world over, for applying pressure without relenting, for reading and rereading, gifting and shifting the world for these stories.”
Tara M. Stringfellow said, “Thrilled I can announce that my MEMPHIS has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize! 🤸🏾♀️💖🥹🎉 I’d like to thank my British family @johnmurrays @ed.pr and my British agent Dennis Caspian for all their hard work to make MEMPHIS the success it is 😘📚”
The winner will be announced on Thursday, August 25, 2022.
