Welcome to The Writer's Year. Throughout 2008, Waterstone's will be highlighting the role of the author in a series of activities that celebrate our favourite authors, old and new. There will be something different every month, with The Writer's Year kicking off with The Waterstone's Guide to Getting Published. Later in the year you'll discover our New Voices, get an insight into the influences and favourite books of a bestselling author as he or she chooses the titles to feature on The Writer's Table, and in June discover the answer to the question; What's Your Story? We will also focus on children's books, local favourites and children's writing. Keep checking back here to discover what is happening during The Writer's Year.

The Writer's Table is a major promotion at the forefront of The Writer's Year, Waterstone's calendar of monthly initiatives and activities designed to highlight the role of the author. Sebastian Faulks, whose highly anticipated James Bond novel Devil May Care is published at the end of May, has been given complete free rein in choosing every single title in the promotion - any book, any author, any subject, so long as the titles were in print in the UK. Faulks has also written about why he chose each book in his selection, and his hand-written thoughts are revealed on the Writer's Table page.

More about the Writer' Table

This month, Waterstone's launches a search for the next great writing talent to emerge from within its stores and offices. The Bookseller's Bursary will offer two booksellers the chance to go on one of the Arvon Foundation's renowned creative writing courses, as well as give them a cash prize of £500. .

"We have a pretty impressive history in this area," said Waterstone's MD, Gerry Johnson. "David Mitchell, Ray Monk, Jeremy Dyson and Dan Rhodes are just a few of the authors who worked for Waterstone's at some point in their career. We know there are more talented writers out there, and the Bookseller's Bursary will help them develop their skills."

For further information please contact Jon Howells at Waterstone's Press Office:

Telephone: 0208 9964385

Email: jon.howells@waterstones.com

One of the most exciting things for readers every year is watching new writers appear on the literary scene and discovering their work. Late last year we asked publishers to tell us which of their books from new and emerging writers they were most excited about. We were inundated with titles from fantastic new authors from across the globe, demonstrating a real wealth of talent and variety. From those submissions, a Waterstone's panel has chosen its favourite twelve - our New Voices.

These dozen titles are by some of the authors that we expect to find shaping the world of fiction for years to come. We believe that readers will enjoy their work as much as we have, and we look forward to seeing these names on future Booker, Orange and Costa shortlists. We hope that you enjoy our New Voices as much as we enjoyed identifying them.

See our New Voices selections here and read more about the authors

Our Children's Book prize has been introducing the best new writers to young readers for four years. Created to uncover hidden talent in children's writing, it is open to authors who have written three children's fiction titles or fewer and is the only children's award where publishers, booksellers and the public join forces to recommend books to the panel of judges.

This year's winner was Sally Nicholls, with her novel, Ways to Live Forever.

Read more about this year's winner here

There's a lot written about how difficult it is to get published, how important it is to have an agent and how some books sell in their hundreds of thousands whilst others struggle to sell in three figures. The classic quote states that everyone has a book in them, but how does one go about getting it published?

Read our full guide to getting published here