Comedian and writer Shappi Khorsandi has pulled her book Nina Is Not OK out of the running for the Jhalak Prize following the announcement that it has been longlisted for the award. The prize is to be given to the book of the year by a writer from a BAME (Black, Asian or minority ethnic) background.

Khorsandi has posted an explanation on Facebook saying the following: "I'm flattered to be included in this list of brilliant writers, but I have pulled my book out of the running. Inclusion on an awards list for being 'Black And Multi Ethnic' felt like my skin colour was up for an award rather than my novel, Nina Is Not Ok. Admittedly, the colour of my skin IS rather exquisite, 'Barley Dawn' I'd call it, if I worked for Dulux, however, if my skin WAS to win an award, I'd want it to be on its own merit and not off the back of some book I happened to write."

Buy Nina Is Not OK here.