The authors were nominated by publishers, editors and agents, who as part of Waterstone's silver jubilee celebrations were asked to choose who would go on to produce the most significant works of the next 25 years. A Waterstone's panel then selected the final 25 (see below).

"When Waterstone's asked the publishing industry to tell us who they thought would be the great talents of our second quarter century, we received a wonderful and eclectic array of nominations covering all tastes and genres," said m.d. Gerry Johnson, who unveiled the list yesterday night (Wednesday) at a "25 Years in Books" party at Waterstone's flagship Piccadilly branch.

"It was incredibly tough to choose just 25 of them, but I think our final list includes a sparkling selection of talent--these authors will be on the bestseller and the awards lists for years to come."

Waterstone's will run a three-for-two promotion for its 25 authors for the future.

Naomi was nominated alongside:

Susanna Clarke (novelist, Bloomsbury)
Siobhan Dowd (novelist, David Fickling)
Jasper Fforde (novelist, Hodder)
Julia Golding (children's, OUP)
Emily Gravett (children's picture books, Macmillan Children's Books)
Steven Hall (novelist, Canongate)
Jane Harris (novelist, Faber)
Peter Hobbs (novelist, Faber)
Marina Lewycka (novelist, Penguin)
Robert Macfarlane (travel writer, Granta)
Gautam Malkani (novelist, Fourth Estate)
Jon McGregor (novelist, Bloomsbury)
Charlotte Mendelson (novelist, Picador)
Richard Morgan (sci-fi author, Gollancz)
Maggie O'Farrell (novelist, Headline)
Helen Oyeyemi (novelist, Bloomsbury)
Jo Pratt (food writer, Penguin)
Dominic Sandbrook (historian, Little, Brown/Penguin)
C.J. Sansom (historical crime, Pan)
Chris Simms (crime, Orion)
Nick Stone (crime, Penguin)
Louise Welsh (novelist, Canongate)
Ben Wilson (historian, Faber)
Robyn Young (historical fiction author, Hodder)