East Anglian Book Awards 2022 winners announced

The awards, which shine a spotlight on the region’s writing talent, are a partnership between Jarrold, Newsquest and the National Centre for Writing with support from UEA Faculty of Arts & Humanities. 

The six titles will now be considered by a panel of judges for the coveted £1,000 Book of the Year Award, sponsored by the PACCAR Foundation. 

Holly Ainley, head of programmes and creative engagement at the National Centre for Writing, said: “This year’s shortlist showcases another impressive 12 months of writing and publishing in and about East Anglia.  

“Warmest congratulations to the six category winners, who deservedly represent the breadth of literary talent in our region, their exciting selection of books exploring its history, shining a light on little-known places and faces and telling new stories.  

“It will be an incredibly difficult decision to choose an overall winner from six such inspiring, authoritative, and entertaining reads." 

The category winners are: 

Biography and Memoir  

Iron Man by Lynne Bryan (Salt Publishing) 

Lynne received her MA in creative writing in 1985. Her first book was a collection of short stories, Envy At The Cheese Handout (Faber & Faber 1995), which was followed by two novels, Gorgeous (Sceptre 1999) and Like Rabbits (Sceptre 2002). She is a frequent tutor for the Arvon Foundation and teaches Creative Writing on UEA’s undergraduate programme. 

Says Lynne: "My story of growing up with a disabled parent was hard to write for many reasons, so it is wonderful to receive this recognition. I am thrilled that Iron Man has won the Biography and Memoir category for the East Anglian Book Awards 2022." 

Fiction  

Stewkey Blues: Stories by D. J. Taylor (Salt Publishing) 

D. J. has written 12 novels, including Trespass (1998) and Derby Day (2011), which were both long-listed for the Man-Booker Prize, and, most recently Rock and Roll is Life: The True Story of the Helium Kids by One Who Was There (2018). His non-fiction includes Orwell: The Life, which won the 2003 Whitbread Prize for Biography. He lives in Norwich with his wife, the novelist Rachel Hore. 

He says: “These stories were written to express my love of and fascination with Norfolk, the place where I was born and raised, left with regret but returned to as soon as I decently could. I'm delighted that other people like them too." 

Stewkey Blues: Stories was published by Cromer-based Salt Publishing.  

Jennifer Hamilton-Emery, director, says: “I'm thrilled to see Stewkey Blues win the fiction category of these wonderful awards – David is a master craftsman, and what we have in these stories is a generous, witty and heartfelt survey of Norfolk's people and places: its deep past and complex rural legacies, the new and old money bumping up against each other, and all those social transformations that surround those of us lucky enough to live here – each tale is simply a treasure." 

General Non-Fiction  

The Art of Doris and Anna Zinkeisen by Philip Kelleway, Emma Roodhouse, and Nicola Evans (Unicorn) 

Philip is an art historian who has written books on topics including 18th century porcelain, illustration and landscape painting. He is an authority on the work of the Zinkeisen sisters and has previously published Highly Desirable: the Zinkeisen Sisters and Their Legacy. 

Emma is an art curator and researcher. She has spent over 12 years working with the art collections at Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service, curating exhibitions on a wide range of themes including Constable; Rodin’s sculpture The Kiss, and Ed Sheeran. She has been a recipient of awards for curatorial scholarship and research through the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. She is a freelance researcher, curator and speaker on Suffolk art. 

Nicola is an accomplished artist and conservator of paintings at KSH Conservation Ltd. She has also worked for Damien Hirst at Hirst Science and for the National Maritime Museum in London. 

Philip Kelleway says: “Both Doris and Anna Zinkeisen would be delighted to be back in the limelight again. On a personal level, I'm delighted that the Zinkeisen book is a category winner of this prestigious award as it's the first time I've won a prize — apart, that is, from a flat bottle of champagne in a raffle!" 

History and Tradition 

Wingfield: Suffolk's Forgotten Castle by Elaine Murphy (Poppyland Publishing) 

Elaine is an independent life peer, Baroness Murphy of Aldgate, a well-known academic psychiatrist and dementia specialist. 

She worked in the NHS for 25 years becoming foundation professor of psychiatry of old age at the medical schools of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals from 1983 to 1996. In her retirement she undertook a PhD in social history, and, as well as being the author of many academic books, she now writes on the history of her beloved Waveney Valley and the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. 

Her titles include The Moated Grange: A history of south Norfolk through the story of one home 1300–2000, Monks Hall: The History of a Waveney Valley Manor and Wingfield: Suffolk's Forgotten Castle. 

She says: “I’ve always been fascinated by the tumultuous history and romantic charm of castles, so it was wonderful to be able to spend time researching in-depth this wonderfully evocative home and the people who lived there. Getting an award for something that was such fun to do is a great bonus." 

The book was published by Lowestoft-based Poppyland Publishing. 

Gareth Davies says: "We are extremely pleased that a Poppyland Publishing book, for the second year running, has won the History and Tradition category in the East Anglian Book Awards. Wingfield: Suffolk's Forgotten Castle is an excellent example of the work done by local historians to reveal the history of their counties through careful and rigorous research." 

The Mal Peet Children’s Award 

Spark by Mitch Johnson (Orion) 

After graduating from the University of East Anglia with an award-winning degree in English Literature with Creative Writing, Mitch completed Kick, his debut novel for middle grade readers. Endorsed by Amnesty International UK for its portrayal of children's rights, Kick also received the 2018 Branford Boase Award. 

Mitch now works as a Waterstones bookseller in Norwich where he lives with his wife and family. 

“I am so happy that Spark has been chosen to receive the 2022 Mal Peet Children’s Award,” says Mitch. “I moved to Norfolk over a decade ago to study creative writing and have since made it my home; to be recognised by the East Anglian Book Awards is a huge honour and highly gratifying.’ 

Poetry 

Boudicca by Matt Haw (Templar Poetry) 

Matt is a poet, essayist and filmmaker. He is the author of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole (tall-lighthouse, 2014) and the recipient of an Eric Gregory Award. He divides his time between Norfolk and the west coast of Norway. 

To qualify for the East Anglian Book Awards, works must be set largely in East Anglia or be written by an author living in the region – which is defined as Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and area of Fenland District Council. 

Books must have been published for the first time between 31 July 2021 and 5 August 2022 – and be available in physical bookshops. 

The overall winner of the awards, which celebrate the very best of publishing, writing, and reading in the east of England, will be announced at a special event on Thursday February 16 at 6.30pm, at the National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall in Norwich.  

The category winners will also share their publishing experiences and discuss what the region means to their writing.  

Tickets are £5 and can be bought online at nationalcentreforwriting.org