The short list for the Dylan Thomas Prize was released yesterday, and all books selected this year were put out by independent presses in the UK. The prize of £30,000 is awarded to any debut writer under the age of thirty.

The novels selected are The Last King of Lydia by Tim Leach and Call it Dog by Marli Roode (both published by Atlantic) and Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba (Oneworld). In the short story category, Battleborn by Claire Vaye Watkins (Granta) and The Gurkha’s Daughter by Prajwal Parajuly (Quercus); the poetry volumes nominated are Sins of the Leopard by James Brookes (Salt Publishing) and The Shape of the Forest by Jemma King (Parthian). The prize winners will be announced in November.

In other prize news, Not the Booker Prize is now open to public votes. Sam Jordison and three reader judges will select the prize winner on October 14.

In the U.S., Publishers Weekly reports that Atavist Books (formerly Brightline) is ready to launch, one year after its invention. Karen Russell‘s Sleep Donation will be the first title on the list, with an e-book released in March. Books will be released in print after their digital publication, in a format “between a hardcover and a paperback” — with French flaps and priced at twenty dollars — according to publisher Frances Coady.

Ellipsis Press has announced it will soon become an imprint of Dzanc Books. No details are available yet.

Two Dollar Radio has begun a film venture, and the company is seeking funds through IndieGoGo. Two trailers have been released in recent weeks: The Great Greenbriar Ghost, co-authored by Scott McClanahan and Chris Oxley, and The Removals, written by Nicholas Rombes and directed by author Grace Krilanovich.