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Ten creators of picture books and “young fiction” from underrepresented backgrounds have been chosen to receive free mentorship from top industry representatives including editors at Penguin Random House, HarperCollins and Hachette.
Winners of the 2024 mentorships for writers and illustrators from underrepresented groups will each receive six months of one-to-one support from publishing professionals from the Royal Society of Literature, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Society of Authors, as well as editors and agents.
Rashmi Sirdeshpande, All Stories patron and award-winning author, said: “We’ve received applications from a wide range of writers — from disabled writers, carers and the LGBTQ+ community to writers from minoritised ethnic and mixed-race groups. What is striking is how many sweet and joyous stories we saw, even where the characters face big challenges — a reflection of the kind of comforting and uplifting stories that are so very needed today.”
Freelance editors providing mentorship include Natascha Biebow, Ruth Redford, Jo Collins, Barry Timms, Kathy Webb, Catherine Coe.
In-house editors running mentee webinars include Simone Taylor (Penguin Random House), Jasmine Richards (Storymix), Anne Marie Ryan (Hachette), Ellie Farmer (Penguin Random House), Libby Hamilton (Rocket Bird Books), Ken Wilson-Max (HarperCollins), Joe Marriott (Penguin Random House).
Just three years after launching, eight previous All Stories mentees have secured agent representation, with five having already secured book deals.
Catherine Coe, All Stories founder and director, said: “Following the success of our previous mentees, I am looking forward to seeing their progress as All Stories gives them the support they so thoroughly deserve. I am incredibly grateful to our funders and supporters-in-kind who understand just how important it is for us to continue working to improve inclusivity and representation in the industry — particularly Arts Council England, who increased their funding significantly this year in order to support our extensive programme that will surely result in further increasing representation in children’s books.”
The mentorships are funded by Arts Council England, Inclusive Books for Children and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society.
The programme specifically supports people of colour, people who are disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, working class and socio-economically marginalised.
This year’s cohort of mentees are writing stories on the themes of wellbeing, empathy, and change and empowerment through reading.Winners also receive free memberships to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Royal Society of Literature and the Pocket Publicist.
The ten winning writers and their mentors are:
Tammie Meera Ash (mentor: Barry Timms)
Susan Bugby (mentor: Ruth Redford)
Marva Carty (mentor: Barry Timms)
Emmy Clarke (mentor: Kathy Webb)
Paula David (mentor: Jo Collins)
Hayley Griffin (mentor: Catherine Coe)
Jane Kent (mentor: Barry Timms)
Helen Rose (mentor: Ruth Redford)
Mohammad Saki (mentor: Natascha Biebow)
Tara Schwarze-Chintapatla (mentor: Natascha Biebow)