Reina James
Encyclopedia
Reina James is a British author. She has written two novels, the first of which won the Society of Authors’ McKitterick Prize
in 2007.
. During her teenage years she played in a folk group before marrying and starting a family. In her late 20s she appeared in the stage play John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert
by Willy Russell, and later appeared in Russell's musical Blood Brothers.
, awarded for the best first novel by a writer over the age of 40. Her second novel, The Old Joke, was published in 2009.
McKitterick Prize
The McKitterick Prize is a United Kingdom literary prize. It is administered by the Society of Authors. It was endowed by Tom McKitterick, who had been an editor of The Political Quarterly but had also written a novel which was never published. The prize is awarded annually for a first novel by...
in 2007.
Early life
James was born in 1947, shortly after her parents arrived in the UK from South Africa. Her father was the actor Sid JamesSid James
Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona...
. During her teenage years she played in a folk group before marrying and starting a family. In her late 20s she appeared in the stage play John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert
John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert
John, Paul, George, Ringo...& Bert is a 1974 musical by Willy Russell based on the story of The Beatles. It premiered at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool in May 1974 where it ran for eight weeks and later moved to the Lyric Theatre in London in August 1974, where it ran for a year and was later...
by Willy Russell, and later appeared in Russell's musical Blood Brothers.
Writing career
Having worked since the 1980s as an astrological counsellor, James published her first novel, This Time of Dying in 2007, which won the Society of Authors’ McKitterick PrizeMcKitterick Prize
The McKitterick Prize is a United Kingdom literary prize. It is administered by the Society of Authors. It was endowed by Tom McKitterick, who had been an editor of The Political Quarterly but had also written a novel which was never published. The prize is awarded annually for a first novel by...
, awarded for the best first novel by a writer over the age of 40. Her second novel, The Old Joke, was published in 2009.