The Guardian’s First Book Award List includes only one book of fiction. Although I wish the list was more generous to novelists and story writers, I was pleased to discover that one book of fiction is none other than 26a by Diana Evans. Pleased not only because she’s a friend, mind you, but also because it happens to be an excellent book. A few years ago when Diana and I were residents at Hedgebrook (in my opinion, hands-down the best colony for writers to relax and get some serious work done, a place that happens to be for the most part free of the politicking that goes on at the larger colonies), I had the pleasure to hear her read from the novel-in-progress, which at that time was titled Seraphim. It’s a book that explores the mysteries of twinship and the complexities of familial ties, among other things.

Also at Hedgebrook at that time was Linda Blachman, whose book Another Morning: How Mothers Live with and Battle Cancer, is forthcoming from Seal Press. You can read about the book in this brief interview with Frances Dinkelspiel. Linda is also the founder of the Mothers Living Stories Project.