News & Reviews

WORD: William Hill releases latest odds for Costa Book of the Year
Edited Press Release

In the UK, where punters bet on book awards like Americans bet sporting events, oddsmakers William Hill have Costa Novel Award winner A.L. Kennedy as the odds-on favorite with her fifth novel, "Day," posted at 2-1. While it’s a UK-based company, Americans can bet at William Hill’s cultural and sporting events. Here’s the lines on several key contenders at the 2007 Costa Book Awards, whose winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 22.

The second favorite is historian and biographer Simon Sebag Montefiore with his work, "Young Stalin," at 3-1. In joint third place at 4-1 are poet Jean Sprackland with her collection, "Tilt," and debut novelist Catherine O’Flynn for "What Was Lost." Children’s Book Award winner Ann Kelley is in fourth place with 9-2 for her work, "The Bower Bird."

Here are the contenders, their books, and the latest odds in parentheses:

A.L. Kennedy, Day (2/1)
Simon Sebag Montefiore, Young Stalin (3/1)
Jean Sprackland, Tilt (4/1)
Catherine O'Flynn, What Was Lost (4/1)
Ann Kelley, The Bower Bird (9/2)

The Costa Book Awards recognize the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland. Formerly known as the Whitbread Book Awards, Costa announced its takeover of the sponsorship of the UK’s most prestigious book prize in 2006.

The five Costa Book Award winners, each of whom will receive £5,000, were selected from 553 entries. The five books are now eligible for the ultimate prize, the 2007 Costa Book of the Year.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony at The InterContinental Hotel in central London on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 by a panel of judges chaired by the best-selling British author, Joanna Trollope.

Click here to find further informatio about betting on cultural and sporting events at at William Hill. For more information on the Costa Book Awards, check out their website.

< Back to News & Reviews Home