Pistols at dawn - the Nibbies are coming

Just as the banner says, the Galaxy British Book Awards is the Oscar of the book world. Of special interest to the crime and thriller genre is the BCA Crime Thriller of the Year category. Kate Atkinson (One Good Turn)is the only woman on the shortlist while Peter James, Sam Bourne (The Righteous Men) and Ian Rankin The Naming of the Dead) are also contenders. This year sees the 20th anniversary of the publication of Ian Rankin’s first Rebus novel, and he will be hoping to pick up a Nibbie - the trophies are so-called because of their pen nib shape - to add to the celebrations.

And so will Peter James, who would love to add this trophy to his recent haul and is nominated for his novel Looking Good Dead. The announcement was made by Richard & Judy (UK TV hosts) to a glittering array of literary stars at the fashionable Sketch restaurant in Central London.

The nomination caps a triumphant year for Peter James, who has won a succession of foreign accolades. Last year, Peter James received the 2005 Krimi-Blitz award for Crime Novelist of the Year in Germany, and he also won Le Prix Polar International 2006, France, and earlier this year Le Prix Coeur Noir 2006, France.

On hearing that he had been shortlisted, a delighted Peter James said: "None of the awards I have won abroad has given me the thrill of this nomination in my own country. In my view, this award, about the sheer joy of reading, is by far the most important UK award - I would a million times rather be shortlisted for this than the dreary Booker."

Jilly Cooper is one of the four strong contenders for the Sainsbury’s Popular Fiction Award with her novel Wicked! along with Martina Cole (CLOSE), Marian Keyes (Anybody Out There) and Philippa Gregory (The Constant Princess ).

Now in their 18th year, the Galaxy British Books Awards are the only book awards where the public can vote for their favourites and help decide the winners. The public can vote at the Awards website: www.galaxybritishbookaw ards.com from 7th March until 22nd March. So get your chance to have your voice heard. Over the last four years, since the Galaxy British Book Awards have been presented by Richard & Judy and televised on Channel 4, the resulting book sales of all the shortlisted titles have been in excess of 50 million.

Galaxy®, is excited to be the first ever title sponsor of the British Book Awards, which take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on March 28th. Galaxy® has invested a £1.4m marketing spend around the awards to strengthen it’s relationship with reading and encourage consumers to lose themselves in a good book and Galaxy®. This biggest build-up yet to the Awards comes as Channel 4 gives the hour-long show a peak-time broadcast slot at 8pm on Friday, March 30 and a repeat on More4.

Richard & Judy will host the Galaxy British Book Awards ceremony, as they did the previous year,which Amanda Ross first brought to television with her company Cactus TV, and is now the most-watched book show in the UK. The campaign also invites the public to have their say, with voting cards available in bookstores and libraries across the UK. Since the show was first televised four years ago over 50 million of the shortlisted books have been sold.