2012 Costa Book Awards
The shortlist was announced on 20 November 2012 and the winners were announced on 2 January 2013. The award ceremony took place in London on 29 January 2013, at which the winner of the overall Costa Book of the Year was announced.
2012 was the first year of the short story prize. 1,800 anonymous entries were submitted by published and unpublished writers. Judges for the short story prize included author Victoria Hislop, the Spandau Ballet songwriter Gary Kemp, National Academy of Writing director Richard Beard, Woman & Home books editor Fanny Blake, and literary agent Simon Trewin. Six finalists were chosen and the full stories were made available in both text and audio on the Costa website. The names of the authors were announced only on 24 January, and the winner, Avril Joy's "Millie and Bird", was announced on 29 January.Book of the Year
Winner:
- Hilary Mantel, Bring up the Bodies
Children's Book
Winner:
- Sally Gardner, Maggot Moon
Shortlist:
- Diana Hendry, The Seeing
- Hayley Long, What’s Up with Jody Barton?
- Dave Shelton, A Boy and a Bear in a Boat
First Novel
Winner:
- Francesca Segal, The Innocents
Shortlist:
- J. W. Ironmonger, The Notable Brain of Maximilian Ponder
- Jess Richards, Snake Ropes
- Benjamin Wood, The Bellwether Revivals
Novel
Winner:
- Hilary Mantel, Bring up the Bodies
Shortlist:
- Stephen May, Life! Death! Prizes!
- James Meek, The Heart Broke In
- Joff Winterhart, Days of the Bagnold Summer
Biography
Winner:
- Mary M. Talbot and Bryan Talbot, Dotter of Her Father's Eyes
Shortlist:
Winner:
- Kathleen Jamie, The Overhaul
Shortlist:
- Sean Borodale, Bee Journal
- Julia Copus, The World's Two Smallest Humans
- Selima Hill, People Who Like Meatballs
Short Story
Winner:
- Avril Joy, "Millie and Bird"
Runners up:
- Chioma Okereke, "Trompette de la Mort"
- Guy le Jeune, "Small Town Removal"
Shortlist:
- Sheila Llewellyn, "Dislocation"
- Angela Readman, "Don't Try this at Home"
- Salley Vickers, "Mown Grass"
