A press release issued by Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Canada) starts this way: "Kwantlen Polytechnic University instructor Ailinn Hunter, author of Stay, a 2002 fictional novel, is having her novel made into a film."
I've seen that a lot lately: "fiction novel" or "fictional novel." A novel IS a work of fiction by definition. To say "fiction novel" is like saying "a cooking book about cooking."
I'm sure Hunter didn't see the press release before it went out but it's ironic that the press release goes on to laud the creative writing department. Maybe the person writing the press releases needs a refresher course.
