GORSEDH Kernow’s hard working band of loyal reader reviewers has been keeping the organising committee fully occupied with nearly 250 reports submitted for the annual Holyer An Gof Publishers Awards.

The grand bard of Cornwall, Merv Davey, said: “It was never going to be easy selecting the nominations for Cornwall’s best, recently published, books, and I am so grateful to all my fellow bards and others with specialist subject knowledge who take the time to carefully read and review all these fantastic new books.”

Now in its 20th year, Hoyler An Gof has become a model for Cornish awards, and has been promoted annually by Gorsedh Kernow for publications relating to Cornwall or the Cornish language. Gorsedh Kernow is pleased to encourage all supporters of Cornish publishing.

Rael Harvey, Holyer An Gof co-organiser, said: “Although the number of entries is down this year, the quality of writing, illustrating and publishing is as high as ever, and we are delighted that the Gorsedh Kernow Hoyler An Gof Awards continue to attract entries from all round the publishing world, especially those in the hard-to-reach self publishing sector.

“The range of nominees, announced today, reflects once more the immense attraction that our beloved Cornwall continues to have not only for historical, technical and niche works, but also for the ever popular fiction subjects beloved of so many readers.”

There are many nominations in various categories, including Cornish language books; books for children of primary age and books for young adults; adult fiction; poetry and drama; non-fiction in history, language and creative arts; non-fiction in marine, industrial heritage and environment; non-fiction in which illustrations predominate; and booklets.

Mr Davey added: “These awards have become an important and much anticipated annual event, and we look forward immensely to announcing the winners and celebrating 20 years of Cornish publishing at our prestigious awards ceremony in July at Waterstones of Truro.”