Diana Evans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diana Evans FRSL
Born	1972 (age 52–53) Neasden, London, England
Occupation	Novelist
Nationality	British
Alma mater	University of Sussex University of East Anglia
Period	2005–present
Notable works	26a (2005); The Wonder (2009); Ordinary People (2018)
Notable awards	South Bank Sky Arts Award 2019 deciBel Writer of the Year award 2006 Orange Award for New Writers 2005 Betty Trask Award 2005
Relatives	Mary Evans (sister)

Diana Omo Evans, born in 1972, is a British writer. She is a novelist, journalist, and critic. Diana was born and lives in London, England.

She has written four full-length novels. Her first book, 26a, came out in 2005. It won several awards, including the Orange Award for New Writers. Her third novel, Ordinary People, was very popular. It was nominated for the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction. It also won the 2019 South Bank Sky Arts Award for Literature. Her latest novel, A House for Alice, was published in 2023.

Besides writing novels, Diana Evans also writes essays. She shares her thoughts on books and other topics. She writes for many national newspapers and magazines. In 2020, she became a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This is a special honor for writers.

About Diana Evans

Diana Evans grew up in London, England. Her mother is from Nigeria. Her father is English. She was born in Neasden, a part of north-west London. She lived there with her parents and five sisters. One of her sisters is her twin. She also spent some of her childhood in Lagos, Nigeria.

Her Education and Early Career

Diana studied media studies at the University of Sussex. This university is in Brighton, England. While she was there, she was a dancer. She performed with an African dance group called Mashango.

Later, she earned a master's degree in creative writing. She studied at the University of East Anglia. When she was 25, she started working as a journalist. She wrote articles about people's lives. She also wrote about art. Her work appeared in many magazines and newspapers. She even interviewed famous people. She also worked as an editor for Pride Magazine.

Diana Evans's Novels

Diana Evans is known for her amazing novels. Each book tells a unique story. They often explore themes of family and identity.

Her First Novel: 26a

Her first novel, 26a, was published in 2005. It tells the story of twin sisters, Georgia and Bessi. They are of Nigerian-British background. The book shows how they grow up in Neasden. Many critics praised 26a. It has been translated into 12 different languages.

26a was nominated for several awards. It was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book Award. It also won the first-ever Orange Award for New Writers. Critics said the book was warm, funny, and insightful. They also noted its beautiful writing style.

Her Second Novel: The Wonder

Diana's second novel is called The Wonder. It was published in 2009. This book explores the world of dance. It also looks at Caribbean immigration to the UK. The story touches on changes in London. It also shows the strong bond between a father and son.

One reviewer called it a "serious work of art." They said the writing was like "ribbons of silk." The book explores what art means in people's lives. It shows Diana Evans is a true artist.

Her Third Novel: Ordinary People

Her third novel, Ordinary People, came out in 2018. This book paints a picture of family life. It follows two Black couples in their 30s. They live in South London. The story takes place between two big events. These are the election of Barack Obama and the death of Michael Jackson.

Ordinary People won the South Bank Sky Arts Award. It was also nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction. It was also shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.

Her Latest Novel: A House for Alice

Her fourth novel, A House for Alice, was published in 2023. This book is special. It is one of the first novels to remember the Grenfell Tower fire. Harper's Bazaar magazine called it a "masterpiece." It was also nominated for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.

Other Work and Contributions

Besides writing novels, Diana Evans is also a journalist. She writes essays and book reviews. Her work has appeared in many well-known publications. These include The Guardian, The Independent, and Harper's Bazaar.

She also teaches creative writing. She is an associate lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London. She supports new writers. She is a patron of the SI Leeds Literary Prize. This prize helps Black and Asian women writers in the UK.

Awards and Honors

Diana Evans has won many awards for her writing. Here are some of them:

• 2005: Orange Award for New Writers, for 26a (Winner)
• 2005: Betty Trask Award, for 26a
• 2006: deciBel Writer of the Year award, for 26a (Winner)
• 2019: South Bank Sky Arts Award, for Ordinary People (Winner)
• 2019: Women's Prize for Fiction, for Ordinary People (Shortlist)
• 2020: Elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature