Orange Broadband book prize announced

The shortlist for the Orange Broadbrand Prize for Fiction has been announced.

Kirsty Lang, chair of the judges, explained that in selecting the six books, the group had tried to identify books that people would feel passionately about and would recommend to a friend.

She said: "I’m extremely pleased we have three first novels as well as some very established authors on a list that reflects the scope, variety and international breadth of the Orange Prize."

The shortlist consists of, The Outcast by Sadie Jones, When We Were Bad by Charlotte Mendleson and Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill.

Lottery by Patrica Wood, The Road Home by Rose Tremain and Fault Lines by Nancy Huston are the other three potential award winners.

The winner will be announced at the Royal Festival Hall on June 4th 2008.

The prize was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote the work of women authors.

Pop star Lilly Allen was initially part of the panel of judges for the 2008 awards, but had to pull out due to ill health.