The winners of the 2007 Costa Book Awards have been announced in the UK.
Previously the Whitbread Awards, the Costa Book Awards honour writers in five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book.
Catherine O'Flynn, born in Birmingham to Irish parents, is the winner of the First Novel Award for her book 'What Was Lost'.
Scottish writer and comic AL Kennedy has won the Novel Award for her fifth book, 'Day'.
Simon Sebag Montefiore is the winner of the Biography Award for 'Young Stalin'.
The Poetry Award has gone to Jean Sprackland for her collection 'Tilt'.
Ann Kelley has won the Children's Book Award for her book 'The Bower Bird'.
The five authors are now eligible for the 2007 Costa Book of the Year Award, which will be announced on Tuesday 22 January.
