The chair of the judging panel of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, Helon Habila, yesterday announced the nomination of nine authors for its 2016 Longlist Literature Award.

A statement from Etisalat said the nine books were made up of entries from first-time authors whose books were published in the past 24 months.

The statement added that the winner would be announced in March 2017 and would receive 15,000 pounds sterling with an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück pen.

Other benefits for the winner, according to the statement include an Etisalat-sponsored fellowship at the University of East Anglia.

It said the winner of the prize would also be mentored by the renowned Prof. Giles Foden, author of “The Last King of Scotland’’.

The nominated books include “Mr and Mrs Doctor’’ by Julie Iromuanya , “Piggy Boy’s Blues’’ by  Nakhane Toure , “The Peculiars’’ by Jen Thorpe and “Born on a Tuesday’’ by Elnathan John.

Others, according to the statement are “And After Many Days’’ by Jowhor Ile, “Dub Steps’’ by Andrew Miller, “The Seed Thief’’ by Jacqui L’Ange and “The Star Child’’ by Unathi Magubeni.