Costa First Book-winning novel Witness the Night by Kishwar Desai (Beautiful Books) has been shortlisted for the Authors' Club's Best First Novel Award of 2011.

Also on a six-strong shortlist comprising three indie publishers, is the Orange-longlisted Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson (Sceptre) and John Llewellyn Rhys Prize-winner The Still Point by Amy Sackville (Portobello).

Chair of judges, Suzi Feay, said: "From a very strong longlist of 12 books it was difficult to prune, but after a tense discussion six titles clearly came to the fore. We have a wonderfully diverse shortlist.  . . . All these authors have the potential to go on to brilliant careers."

The Bookseller