Six new authors, including Katherine Boo and Cheryl Strayed, are in with a chance of a retail boost as book chain Barnes & Noble counts down to the annuual Discover New Writers Award for 2012.
In fiction, Amanda Coplin is represented by her debut novel "The Orchardist," alongside
Eowyn Ivey's tale of Alaskan mystery in "The Snow Child" and mesmerizingly unusual "The Age of Miracles" by Karen Thompson Walker.
The nonfiction finalists are Katherine Boo, for her study of Mumbai slumlife in "Behind the Beautiful Forevers," Kristen Iversen on the life surrounding a nuclear weapons plant with "Full Body Burden," and Cheryl Strayed's arresting coastal hike "Wild."
The winners will be announced on March 6, each benefiting from $10,000 and a year's worth of retail promotion.
Last year's prizes went to Scott O'Connor for "Untouchable" and Michael Levy for "Kosher Chinese."