Christmas Eve by Nell Leyshon

Nell Leyshon, who made headlines in 2012 with her novel The Colour Of Milk, has been working on the literary circuit for several years as a playwright (Comfort Me With Apples won the Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright Award in 2005) and in 2010 became the first woman to write for Shakespeare’s Globe. She was also the first person to become playwright in residence for the 2012 Hay Festival, and is writer in residence at Vita Nova, a charity that works with people recovering from addiction. Published in June, The Colour Of Milk met with critical acclaim thanks to its Hardy-esque portrayal of life for rural women in early 19th-century Somerset.

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