Michael Brooks announced in his column in the New Statesman this week that he is running for Parliament.
Ruth Padel is a prize-winning British poet and writer.
Joe Abercrombie's BEST SERVED COLD has been nominated for The David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novel 2010.
Adam Foulds and Simon Mawer's Booker-shortlisted novels THE QUICKENING MAZE and THE GLASS ROOM are both on the shortlist for the inaugural Walter Scott Prize, worth £25,000.
