Maria Semple wins the Melissa Nathan Award for Fiction About Life and Love

The judges said that winning book Where'd You Go Bernadette was one of the funniest ever submitted to the comedy romance writing award
Maria Semple said: 'I was already wildly honoured to be short listed for the Melissa Nathan Award, and now this! What a surprise and a delight. Thank you to the judges, especially Andrew Saffron, who founded this award to honour his wife. As Melissa Nathan knew only too well, it's hard work making comedy look easy. I'm so grateful that Where'd You Go, Bernadette has been acknowledged for its heart and humour.'
Having lost its sponsor, the Melissa Nathan Award will be on hold from now. It was set up by her husband Andrew Saffron in 2006 after the death, at the age of 37 from cancer, of romantic comedy novelist Melissa.
'I very much hope that we will find a new sponsor,' said Andrew. 'It's been great fun, and I hope we can continue in the future.'

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