Ripples were sent through the world of book publishing last night when it was announced that the shortlist for the Costa Book Prize features not one, but two graphic novels.

Days of the Bagnold Summer © Joff Winterhart

Joff Winterhart’s Days of the Bagnold Summer, above, will compete against Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up The Bodies, the winner of this year’s Man Booker Prize, in the novel category. Mary and Bryan Talbot are nominated in the biography category for Dotter of her Father’s Eyes.

Day’s of the Bagnold Summer (review here) is the story of a difficult mother-son relationship. Winterhart is a former runner-up in the Observer-Jonathan Cape Graphic Short Story Prize

Dotter of her Father's Eyes © Mary and Bryan Talbot

Dotter Of Her Father’s Eyes (review), above, written by Mary M. Talbot and illustrated by her husband, the acclaimed comics artist Bryan Talbot, is part memoir of the author’s own life and part biography of James Joyce’s troubled daughter.

The Costas recognise the most enjoyable books in five categories – novel, first novel, biography, poetry and children’s book – by writers in the UK and Ireland. An overall winner, across all categories, is also announced.

Winners in the five categories, who each receive £5,000, will be announced on 2 January. The overall winner will receive £30,000 and will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 29 January. See the full shortlist at the Costa Book Awards website.