Kerry Hudson's debut novel TONY HOGAN BOUGHT ME AN ICE-CREAM FLOAT BEFORE HE STOLE MY MA is shortlisted for the prestigious South Bank Sky Arts Literature Award. She is nominated alongside Hilary Mantel's BRING UP THE BODIES, which won the Costa and Booker Prizes this year and Will Self's UMBRELLA.

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards celebrates the best of UK achievements across all the arts. The shortlist was decided by a panel of nine judges, and the winners will be announced on 12 March and aired on TV on 14 March.

TONY HOGAN BOUGHT ME AN ICE-CREAM FLOAT BEFORE HE STOLE MY MA was published by Chatto & Windus in July 2012 and has been shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award, Green Carnation Prize and Scottish First Book of the Year.

Praise for Kerry Hudson:

'What a brilliant thing to turn the chaos and trauma of a hectic childhood into a debut novel as colourful, funny, joyful and compelling as this.' -- Nicola Barr, Guardian

'Kerry Hudson's fine eloquent debut novel traces the peripatetic childhood of Janie Ryan...[Janie's] tale is full of warmth and bittersweet humour...' -- David Evans, Financial Times

'From the (unrepeatable) hilarious first sentence, this debut sucks you in with its idiosyncratic style...Kerry Hudson's writing is very funny, and her deft touches give the book a reality that makes it all the more powerful. Hudson certainly has a bright future.' -- We Love This Book