OA wins prize for her novel 'Making Shore'...
Sara Allerton (OA88) has won the 2011 People’s Book Prize for fiction. Her debut novel, Making Shore, has been recognised by the publishing industry at a prestigious awards ceremony in London, following the results of a public vote. The book beat off a strong challenge from 11 other national book nominations for the leading fiction title of the year.
Fronted by patron Frederick Forsyth CBE, the People’s Book Prize awards took place at the historic Stationers’ Hall on Ave Maria Lane. Authors, publishers, presenters and members of the press attended the glittering gala evening.
On receiving the award, Sara Allerton said: “Family friend Brian Clarke has been the inspiration behind the book. When he decided to relate his wartime story of disaster and unlikely survival, we were mired in dilemmas about which parts of his odyssey should be told and which left alone. I hope that in writing the fictional novel, I have done justice to the enormity of his ordeal at sea. It’s fantastic news for both of us to have won national recognition and be rated so highly amongst many other great new books.”