Rewarding Marginalized Storytellers

Here’s yet another incentive for writers wanting to break into the crime- and thriller-fiction field: Penguin Michael Joseph, a British imprint of Penguin Random House, has launched a new award for undiscovered writers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Shotsmag Confidential blogger Ayo Onatade explains that “The inaugural prize (2022/2023) focuses on the crime and thriller genre, with budding writers being invited to submit tales of mysteries, crimes, jeopardy, action or adventure.“ Participants must be over 18 years of age and reside in the UK or Republic of Ireland. The judges are in search of writers “who are from a background that’s currently underrepresented in publishing—that would include but is not limited to writers from a socio-economically marginalized background, Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer) writers or disabled writers.”

The Michael Joseph Web site states clearly that to enter the competition, “you will need to submit a 200-word synopsis and 2,000-word extract from the beginning of your book.” Applications should be tendered via this Web page between September 30 and November 30 of this year. The winner is to be announced in August 2023.

For more information, click here.