Congratulations to the SoA members who were recently recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2020 list:

• Past SoA Chair Daniel Hahn for receiving an OBE for services to literature
• Cressida Cowell for receiving an MBE for services to children’s literature
• Martin Bailey, who also received an MBE for services for art history and journalism.

Cressida Cowell commented: 

I was thrilled to receive this award. I am fighting my absolute hardest, as are the Society of Authors, in these really difficult times for books and for literacy and for authors and illustrators. We're all doing our best, even though at times it can feel like a bit of an uphill struggle, and any award for an author is an acknowledgement of the importance of what we're doing.

Other authors commended were novelist Susan Hill and food writer Mary Berry, who both received damehoods. Short story writer, poet and publisher Kadija George Sesay was also recognised with an MBE, as well as National Literary Trust’s chief executive Jonathan Douglas (CBE), and more.

View the full honours list here