Lisa Thompson could win up to £5,000 if her book, The Goldfish Boy, wins the top award.

A writer from Hadleigh has been shortlisted for the prestigious Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

Successful nominees typically see a huge rise in sales, with last year’s winner The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave seeing a uplift of 1,400% following the announcement of her victory.

The Goldfish Boy, a story about a child with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is shortlisted in the Younger Fiction category, one of only six books on the list. Each category winner receives £2,000 and the overall winner of the prize is awarded an additional £3,000.

Ms Thompson said: “What a complete honour to be shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize! I’m thrilled, excited and slightly gobsmacked in equal measure. Thank you!”

Jem Gooding, Children’s Bookseller at Waterstones Ipswich added: “We are really excited here in Ipswich to see Lisa Thompson being celebrated by the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. A brilliant example of local writing talent, her debut The Goldfish Boy is simply superb.

“Enjoyed by children in store, and parents and booksellers alike The Goldfish Boy is a wonderful story brimming with mystery, wisdom and insight.”

Other books shortlisted for the Younger Fiction category include A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan and Kid Normal by Greg James, Chris Smith and Erica Salcedo.

The winners will be announced at an evening reception on March 22 at Waterstones Picadilly in London.