Inaugural Jhalak Prize open for submissions

The Jhalak Prize for Book of the Year by a Writer of Colour is now accepting submissions for its inaugural prize.

Founded by authors Sunny Singh and Nikesh Shukla, in conjunction with Media Diversified and with support from the Authors’ Club, the award exists to celebrate the achievements of UK-based writers of colour. The overall winner will be presented with a prize of £1,000, which has been donated by an anonymous benefactor.

Submissions must originate in the UK and not have been published anywhere else in the world before its UK publication date. Books published simultaneously elsewhere will be considered if the author and primary agent are UK-based.

The 2017 prize is open to any book written in English and published in the UK between 1st January and 31st December 2016 across all genres, including fiction, non-fiction, short story, graphic novels, poetry, children’s books and YA. The prize is also open to self-published writers. Books first published in another country of origin will not be considered.

Any queries about submitting books to the prize should be sent to nikesh@mediadiversified.org.

There is no submission fee for the Jhalak Prize.

The closing date for the Jhalak Prize is midnight on the 15th December 2016 and the shortlist will be announced in February 2017.

The judging panel consists of Singh (chair) and judges Catherine Johnson, Alex Wheatle, Yvvette Edwards and Musa Okwonga.