Orange to End Prize Sponsorship; Commonwealth Winners Named

PublishersLunch

Cellphone company Orange announced that it will withdraw its support of the UK prize for fiction by women that has carried its name since the award's founding 17 years ago. Co-founder and honorary director Kate Mosse makes the case to the Guardian (and future sponsors) that "the investment generates something in the region of £17.5m a year in advertising, and the cultural capital of the women's prise for fiction is practically second to none."

This year's winner will be named May 30. The Guardian notes that the prize money itself is supplied from an endowment, with the sponsor providing "the remainder of the award's expenses."

Announcement

The regional Commonwealth Book Prize winners were named, with the overall winner set to be announced June 8:

Africa
Jacques Strauss, South Africa
The Dubious Salvation of Jack V, Jonathan Cape

Asia

Shehan Karunatilaka, Sri Lanka
Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, Random House

Canada and Europe
Riel Nason, Canada
The Town that Drowned, Goose Lane Editions

Caribbean

Alecia McKenzie, Jamaica
Sweetheart, Peepal Tree Press

Pacific

Cory Taylor, Australia
Me and Mr Booker, Text Publishing