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Six writers have been shortlisted for the Mo Siewcharran Prize 2024, which this year had a focus on fantasy writing and was hosted by Hodderscape.
Now in its fifth year, the Mo Siewcharran Prize is run as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf and is named in memory of Nielsen BookData’s former director of marketing and communications. The prize is sponsored by John Seaton, Mo Siewcharran’s husband and co-founder of the prize, and Nielsen BookData.
The prize aims to shine a light on unpublished fiction writers from Black, Asian, mixed-heritage and minority ethnic backgrounds.
A shortlist was chosen by Molly Powell, Hodderscape publishing director, alongside Natasha Qureshi, editor at The Novelry, authors Saara El-Arifi and Sangu Mandanna, literary agent Edwina de Charnace of MMB Creative, founder and chief executive of FairyLoot Anissa de Gomery, and the co-chair of Hachette UK’s THRIVE network, Feyi Oyesanya.
Shortlisted are D H Ahmed for The Devotee; Aliyah Goga for Sandstorm; Cassie Leung for The Master of the Valley; Tina Shah for The Treaties We Break; Ana Sun for Modern Day Dragons and K Andrea White for Deity of a Drowning Realm.
Powell said: “It was almost impossible to create this shortlist. This is the fantasy genre at its very best, and it has been an honour to be part of the process.”
The winner and runners-up will be announced at a prize ceremony on 25th September 2024. The winner will receive £2,500 prize money, plus a detailed letter from a Hodderscape editor giving feedback on their entry and a follow-up online mentoring session.
They will also have introductory meetings with at least two different literary agents, an introductory session with the Hodder & Stoughton rights team, meetings with the Hodder & Stoughton marketing and publicity teams and a ticket to London Book Fair 2025.
The winner’s entry will also be taken forward to a Hodder & Stoughton acquisitions meeting and considered for publication with a competitive advance against royalties. One runner-up will receive £1,500 prize money, plus a detailed letter from a Hodderscape editor giving feedback on their entry, plus a hamper of Hodderscape books. A second runner-up will receive £750 prize money, as well as a hamper of Hodderscape books.