Penguin Michael Joseph launches new crime and thriller prize for underrepresented writers

Penguin Michael Joseph has launched a new prize for crime and thriller writing by underrepresented writers.

First hinted at by PMJ managing director Louise Moore during London Book Fair earlier this year, the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers Prize is aimed at unpublished writers aged over 18 currently resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland and from a background currently underrepresented in publishing. That includes ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability or socio-economic background. Entries – which initially need to be submitted as a 200-word synopsis and 2,000-word extract – will be judged by a panel of judges led by PMJ’s crime and thriller publisher Joel Richardson.

The winner of the prize will receive a publishing contract with PMJ, worth at least £10,000, and representation by the D H H Literary Agency.

All shortlisted writers will also receive one-to-one editorial feedback and guidance from an editor or agent. Writers are encouraged to submit “tales of mysteries, crimes, jeopardy, action or adventure”. 

Richardson said: “We’re so excited to be launching this new prize, seeking out the brightest and best new voices in a genre I absolutely love. I hope it inspires people who have always daydreamed about writing a book to finally give it a go, and I also hope it plays a role in broadening the range of voices we see in crime/thriller writing – the UK’s biggest book genre.”

His fellow judges are: author Amy McCulloch; award-winning freelance crime fiction critic, moderator and blogger Ayo Onatade; Waterstones’ head of fiction Bea Carvalho; award-winning bookseller, owner of Goldsboro Books and m.d and agent at D H H Literary Agency, David Headley, and Syima Aslam, the founder and director of the Bradford Literature Festival.

Applications will open on 30th September and should be submitted online. All further details and T&Cs can also be found here. The deadline for submissions is 30th November 2022, and the winner of the prize is due to be announced in August 2023.