US writer among Orange Prize fiction finalists

LONDON - American writer Patricia Wood and two other first-time novelists are among six finalists for the Orange Prize for fiction by women.

Wood, 54, is nominated for her debut novel "Lottery," the tale of a jackpot winner that was inspired by her own father's $6 million win in the Washington State lottery.

The shortlist includes two other first novels: "The Outcast," by Britain's Sadie Jones; and "Lullabies for Little Criminals," by Canadian writer Heather O'Neill.

The other nominees announced Tuesday are France-based Canadian Nancy Huston for "Fault Lines"; Britain's Charlotte Mendelson for "When We Were Bad"; and British novelist Rose Tremain for "The Road Home."

The $60,000 prize is open to any novel by a woman published in English. Last year's winner was Nigeria's Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for "Half of a Yellow Sun." Past winners include Zadie Smith's "On Beauty," Andrea Levy's "Small Island" and Carol Shields' "Larry's Party."

This year's winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on June 4.

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