Catherine O'Flynn's debut novel What was Lost and A.L. Kennedy's Day have been shortlisted for the Costa Book of the Year Award, a British literary award formerly known as the Whitbread.

Winners were selected Wednesday in five categories — novel, first novel, biography, poetry and children's book — and the overall winner is to be chosen later in the month from among them.

The category winners:

  • First novel: Catherine O'Flynn's What was Lost.
  • Novel: A.L. Kennedy's Day.
  • Biography: Simon Sebag Montefiore's Young Stalin.
  • Poetry: Jean Sprackland's Tilt.
  • Children's book: Ann Kelley's The Bower Bird.

British writer O'Flynn, a former postwoman whose book was rejected by 14 literary agents before finding a publisher, was nominated for the Orange Prize and the Man Booker Prize for What Was Lost.

The novel is an examination of the empty experience of modern life, contrasted with the energy and optimism of a girl who went missing in the 1980s.

"Hugely compelling and inventive, it pulls the rug from under your feet from the very first page — O'Flynn reveals her clues tantalizingly in this poignant story of love and loss," the Costa judges said in their citation.

Scottish writer Kennedy is known for her dark humour and also performs as a standup comedian at the Edinburgh Festival.

Day, a story of a tailgunner in a Second World War bomber crew, was hailed as "masterpiece" by the jury.

"An exceptional feat of research and an astonishing effort of the imagination, A.L. Kennedy's Day is both terrifying and hilarious," the jury said.

Montefiore, a historian, has also signed a film deal for Young Stalin, his exhaustively researched biography of the early life of the Soviet dictator.

British poet Sprackland won for her third book, Tilt, which features poems with an environmental theme.

British writer Kelley's The Bower Bird captures the world of beauty as seen by a 12-year-old girl.

"A rare and beautiful book of lasting quality, we felt this is a voice that needs to be heard and read," the jury said.

Category winners get a cash prize of £5,000 ($9,840 Cdn). The winner of the overall Costa Award will be announced Jan. 22.