Hachette UK’s Changing the Story diversity and inclusivity initiative has launched the Mo Siewcharran Prize for its second year to help discover unpublished fiction writers from Black, Asian and Marginalised Ethnic backgrounds.

WHAT IS THE MO SIEWCHARRAN PRIZE?

THE MO SIEWCHARRAN PRIZE 2021

The initiative, named in memory of Nielsen Book’s former director of marketing and communications, aims to nurture talent from under-represented backgrounds writing in English. Run by Hachette UK’s Changing the Story diversity and inclusivity initiative, the prize was launched in 2019 and returns this year, following a break in 2020 due to the pandemic.  This year, the winner will receive the chance to be published by Little, Brown Book Group’s Little Brown and Abacus imprints.

• The winner will receive £2,500 prize money plus the offer of a publishing deal, subject to contract, with Little, Brown and Abacus.
• Second place will receive £1,500 alongside a book hamper.
• Third place will receive £750 plus a hamper of books.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would love to hear from you if you’ve written a full-length novel for adults, have not had a book published anywhere in the world by a publisher (or be under contract anywhere in the world for publication by a publisher) and are aged 18 or over, resident in the UK and from a Black, Asian and Marginalised Ethnic background.

We are looking for compelling, unique and relatable novels that tell us something about the world we live in and the breadth of human experiences. We love engaging narratives, compelling characters and developed themes.

We are open to all adult literary fiction genres, but will not accept sci-fi, fantasy, poetry, short story collections, non-fiction or books for young adults.

KEY DATES

• 23 May 2021 – Submissions close
• 28 June 2021 – Longlist announced
• 29 July 2021 – Shortlist announced
• September 2021 – Winner announced

HOW TO ENTER

Submissions are free to enter. If you’d like to enter, please fill in the form and submit your submission as a single document.

Entry requirements are a 700-word synopsis of the plot of the novel, a list of the book’s characters and an extract of no more than 8,000 words (either the first three chapters or first fifty pages).

Submissions must be in 12pt Times New Roman, and submitted as Word documents, PDF or ODT files.

You may only submit one piece of work for consideration. Submissions will be open until Sunday 23rd May at 11.59am.

Please contact mosiewcharranprize@hachette.co.uk for any queries.

Header Image: ‘Such A Fun Age‘ author and 2020 Booker prize finalist Kiley Reid. Photographed by David Goddard