Rozie Kelly won the 2024 NorthBound Book Award for Kingfisher, her debut novel, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2026.
It was described by Julia Gillard, chair of the Women’s Prize judges as “Taut, lyrical and emotionally intense … a mesmerising read”; by fellow judge Mona Arshi as “a really compelling, original voice… a voice I’ve never heard before, and a beautifully crafted story” and by Marie Claire as “A tenderly written meditation on art, love and life that’s as much about the search for self as for connection.”
She has been shortlisted and longlisted for a variety of prizes, including the PFD Queer Fiction Prize, a Northern Writer’s Award, and the Writing East Midlands Short Story Award. She was one of eight participants in the inaugural Prototype Development Programme 2024. She is the host of the twice monthly iglu sauna book club, which was featured on BBC Breakfast and in The Times.
She lives in rainy West Yorkshire with her little dog and two furious cats.
Events
- Thu, 29 October 2026Rozie Kelly and Marcia Hutchinson in conversation with Imani ThompsonDaunt Books Notting Hill, London
- Thu, 17 December 2026Author Event: Rozie KellyElderwood Books, The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell
- Sat, 6 February 2027What makes Prize Winning Fiction with Caroline Lea & Rozie Kelly, Kenilworth Fringe FestivalKenilworth School, Glasshouse Ln, Kenilworth CV8 2AL, UK
Kingfisher
A novel by Rozie Kelly
A beautifully crafted story of relationship dynamics, love, grief, and longing — devastating and darkly funny in equal measure.
Critical Acclaim
"Takes us to the brink of what's possible… a really compelling, original voice. It's a voice I've never heard before, and a beautifully crafted story."
"[A] stunning debut … rich, poetic writing … vital, fresh."
"Taut, lyrical and emotionally intense … a mesmerising read."
"It is so brilliantly written. It's one of those books that ticks every box for me."
"The writing is immaculate … Every line is perfect."
"A strikingly original voice."
"An unmissable debut, a beautifully crafted story of relationship dynamics and how we reconstruct and find ourselves within them. Kelly writes about love, grief and longing in a beautifully lyrical prose that's both devastating and darkly funny."
"Kelly writes the messiness of power dynamics well. She has a shrewd eye for complexity."
"Kelly observes relationships and their intricate power dynamics with precision and grace. This sublime novel is skilful in the extreme, balancing brutality and care with the deftest touch."
"Kelly may be writing in the same lane as the likes of Rooney and Levy, but she is a confident voice in her own right, and handles grief, power, and desire with deftness. The attractive prose typical of literary fiction, and indeed seen in this novel, often creates more vibe than substance, but not in the case of Kingfisher, a story that stings with realism."