Kathryn Faulke won the £10,000 (about $13,560) Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize for Every Kind of People. The award honors the best debut by an author over 50 years old.
Chair of judges Jacqueline Wilson commented: "The stylish shortlist shows what a variety of entries we've had. Any would have been worthy winners, but we were united in thinking Kathryn's Every Kind of People simply had to be at the very top of the list. It's a riveting book that treats elderly, infirm and irritable people as the lively and extraordinary human beings they really are. Kathryn Faulke is a shining example to us all, though she's self-deprecating and touchingly hard on herself. Every Kind of People is truly heart-warming and will be in pride of place on my bookshelf of very special books."
Faulke said, "I'm so honored. I wanted people to see that it doesn't matter how old you are, or how what illnesses you have--you are still a human being, and you can still engage. You're still funny. You're still interesting. You're still lively. I really want people to see care as a profession, as something that's skilled and positive, and as something that's enjoyable. I just think it's so important."