Ruth Thomas (born 7 July 1967 in Horsmonden, Kent) is a British

writer of novels A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

and short stories.

Biography

Thomas studied English literature at the University of Edinburgh, then worked in various administrative jobs in the private and voluntary sector before turning to writing. Her first collection of short stories, ''Sea Monster Tattoo'', was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the

Scottish Best First Book of the Year Award Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

. Her second collection, ''The Dance Settee'' won a

Scottish Arts Council Book Award The Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards, formerly known as the Scottish Arts Council Book Awards, were a series of literary awards in Scotland that ran from 1972 to 2013. Organised by Creative Scotland (formerly the Scottish Arts Counci ...

. Both books were published by Polygon, which is now an imprint of Birlinn Limited. Her first novel, ''Things to Make and Mend'', was published in 2007 by

Faber Faber may refer to: People * Faber (surname) Companies * Faber and Faber (also known as "Faber and Gwyer"), publishing house in the United Kingdom * Faber-Castell, German manufacturer of writing instruments * Faber Music, British sheet musi ...

and won a Good Housekeeping Book Award (Most Entertaining Read). Her latest collection of short stories, ''Super Girl'', was published in 2009 also by

. ''Rock of Ages'' from that collection was runner up for the 2009

V. S. Pritchett Sir Victor Sawdon Pritchett (also known as VSP; 16 December 1900 – 20 March 1997) was a British writer and literary critic. Pritchett was known particularly for his short stories, collated in a number of volumes. His non-fiction works incl ...

memorial prize of the

Royal Society of Literature The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is a learned society founded in 1820, by George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV, to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". A charity that represents the voice of literature in the UK, th ...

. Her second novel, ''The Home Corner'', was published in 2013. Thomas lives in Edinburgh with her three children and husband, Mike Norman.

Works

Novels

*''Things to Make and Mend'' (2007)
Faber & Faber
** Available as an audio book read by Finty Williams from BBC Audio Books ** Translated into Dutch as ''Vaardigheden Voor Meisjes'' by Inge de Heer for De Bezige Bij *''The Home Corner'' (2013)
Faber & Faber
*''The Snow and the Works on the Northern Line'' (2021),

Collections of short stories

*''Sea Monster Tattoo'' (1997) Polygon *''The Dance Settee'' (1999) Polygon *''Super Girl'' (2009
Faber & Faber
Ruth Thomas has been anthologised in collections since 1990. Her stories appear regularly on BBC Radio.

External links

Ruth Thomas's Author page on the Faber & Faber website

Ruth Thomas's agent - Jenny Brown - at Jenny Brown Associates

'Letters from Moomin Valley' - Ruth Thomas writing on the Faber & Faber blog, The Thought Fox

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Ruth 1967 births Living people Scottish women novelists Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish short story writers 20th-century British novelists British women short story writers 20th-century British women writers 20th-century British short story writers People from Horsmonden