Kei Miller's first collection of short stories FEAR OF STONES has been nominated for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Miller, whose poetry was published by Heaventree in 2006, has been praised in the Caribbean for his warm portrayals of religion, his sensuous use of Jamiacan Standard English, and his courageous discussions of homosexuality and femininity.

Alongside Willie Cheng, he is one of two young Jamaicans nominated for the presitigious international award. Their presence on this year's shortlist is particularly exciting for the Caribbean since the winner will be declared at Jamaica's Calabash Festival in late May.

Both Cheng and Miller are published in the Macmillan Caribbean Writers series, which Jonathan Morley, editorial director at Heaventree, now coordinates, having recently taken over from the critic and dramatist Judy Stone. Stone is said to be "delighted" at the news, while Morley adds that "Kei's reading tour of the West Midlands in the August of 2006 proved a delight with English audiences."
KINGDOM OF EMPTY BELLIES, Miller's first collection of poems, which Lorna Goodison has characterised as having "rare confidence and authority", is available to order HERE.