Octogenarian poet makes Costa Book Award shortlist
- Published
Roy Fisher's latest collection is published by Bloodaxe Books
An octogenarian poet from Birmingham is one of 19 authors in contention for the 2010 Costa Book Awards.
Roy Fisher is shortlisted for Standard Midland, a collection published in June to coincide with his 80th birthday.
Playwright Michael Frayn is nominated for the biography award for his memoir about his father Tom.
The winners of the five individual categories will be announced on 5 January, one of whom will be named the overall winner three weeks later.
Poet Christopher Reid won the 2009 Costa Book of the Year award for his collection A Scattering.
TV presenters Lorraine Kelly and Anneka Rice are among the judges who will select the winners of each category.
In addition to the poetry and biography prizes, awards will also be given for best novel, best first novel and best children's book.
Fisher faces competition in his category from Sam Willetts, a reformed heroin addict nominated for his first collection of poems New Light for the Old Dark.
One of the nominees for the novel award, Skippy Dies by Paul Murray, was previously longlisted for the Man Booker prize.