DOUBLE NEGATIVE by Ivan Vladislavić and ZOO CITY by Lauren Beukes are both shortlisted for the University of Johannesburg Creative Writing Award. The winner will be announced in May.

The annual University of Johannesburg Creative Writing Prize is one of South Africa's most prestigious literary awards for works in English. It celebrates writing from a range of genres and the shortlist features both fiction and non-fiction. Last year's winner, Imraan Coovadia is on the panel of judges this year, along with Michiel Heyns. The prizewinner will receive R 60,000. Please click here for more information on the award.

Umuzi/Random House published Ivan Vladislavić 's DOUBLE NEGATIVE in a joint collaboration with David Goldblatt's photography as TJ & DOUBLE NEGATIVE. It has been shortlisted for the 2011 Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards, in the category of Best Photography Book, with the prize to be announced in London on 27 April. The stand-alone novel DOUBLE NEGATIVE will be published by Umuzi in May 2011.

ZOO CITY is published by Angry Robot in the UK and USA and Jacana in South Africa. Click here to visit her website.

Praise for Ivan Vladislavić:

'One of the most imaginative minds at work in South African literature today.' -- André Brink

'Vladislavić is without doubt the most significant writer in South Africa today.' -- Focus on Africa

Praise for Lauren Beukes:

'Beukes delivers a thrill ride that gleefully merges narrative styles and tropes, almost single-handedly pulling the "urban fantasy" subgenre back towards its groundbreaking roots.' -- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

'Lauren Beukes is very, very good. It feels effortless. Utterly accomplished.' -- William Gibson