Texas writer Attica Locke — whose debut novel, Black Water Rising, was inspired by incidents in her childhood and the life of her father, Gene Locke, who later ran unsuccessfully for Houston mayor — is on the shortlist for the Orange Prize. Thrillers rarely make the short-list let alone win the Orange, which is awarded to the best novel written by a woman. Locke is up against some very familiar names, including Barbara Kingsolver (The Lacuna), Lorrie Moore (A Gate at the Stairs)  and especially Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall), widely considered the frontrunner, although there may be some reluctance among the judges to pile another prize on top of the Man Booker and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Wolf Hall is already the best-selling Man Booker-winner — ever. The Guardian has the story.