Kitty Aldridge: Debut novel

The list includes the debut novel Pop by actress Kitty Aldrige, who has appeared in BBC dramas such as The Ice House and To Play the King.

The judges are actress Fiona Shaw, author AL Kennedy, Gillian Beer, professor of English Literature at Cambridge University, WH Smith bookbuyer Julie Wright, and chair Sue MacGregor, former presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

MacGregor said: "The judges' first review produced a surprising amount of agreement on our long-list of prize-worthy novels.

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"All of these books absorbed and entertained us. Each judge has their favourite, but several novels are already outstanding contenders for the Orange prize.

"It's been hugely rewarding to discover so many fine and talented writers relatively fresh on the scene."

Last year Australian novelist Kate Grenville won the award for The Idea of Perfection.

A shortlist will be drawn up on 30 April with the award presented at a ceremony on 11 June.

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Kitty Aldridge - Pop
Anna Burns - No bones
Jennifer Clement - A True Story Based on Lies
Stevie Davies - The Element of Water
Helen Dunmore - The Siege
Maggie Gee - The White Family
Lesley Glaister - Now You See Me
Joanne Harris - Five Quarters of the Orange
Chloe Hooper - A Childs Books of True Crime
Elizabeth McCracken - Niagara Falls All Over Again
Sue Monk Kidd - The Secret Life of Bees
Joyce Carol Oates - Middle Age
Kathy Page - The Story of My Face
Ann Patchett - Bel Canto
Nani Power - Crawling at Night
Lily Prior - La Cucina
Anita Rau Badami - The Hero's Walk
Emma Richler - Sister Crazy
Rachel Seiffert - The Dark Room
Sarah Waters - Fingersmith