Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf is running the Mo Siewcharran Prize for its sixth year to help discover unpublished fiction writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds.
For 2026, the prize will be hosted by Bookouture and we are looking for page-turning commercial fiction within the genres of psychological thriller and romantic fiction.
Key dates
2nd February 2026 – Submissions open
2nd May 2026 – Submissions close
15th June 2026 – Longlist announced
8th September 2026 – Shortlist announced
24th September 2026 – Winner announced at the awards ceremony
What is the prize?
The initiative, named in memory of NielsenIQ BookData’s former Director of Marketing and Communications, aims to nurture talent from under-represented backgrounds writing in English. Run as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf scheme, the prize was launched in 2019. For more updates on The Mo Siewcharran Prize 2026, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @MoPrize and see the hashtag #MoPrize2026.
What are we looking for?
Love and Secrets: romance and psychological thrillers!
We’re looking for entertaining works of commercial fiction that immediately grab our attention, have a page-turning plot with mic-drop moments and characters we are rooting for from page one.
The novel must sit firmly in the commercial fiction sub-genres of either psychological thriller fiction or romance fiction (this includes romantic comedy, romantasy, and historical romance).
Please open our genre guides for more information and definitions on exactly what we mean by psychological thrillers, and romance.
Judges will be looking for:
A well-written and entertaining piece of writing
A page-turning story that will speak to romance or psychological thriller readers
An attention-grabbing concept, also known as the hook
A compelling plot that drives us through the story
Memorable characters that readers care for
The submission must be aimed at adults.
Criteria for entry
Entrants must be unagented and previously unpublished, aged 18 or over, resident in the UK and from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background.
Entry requirements are:
A synopsis of the novel (up to 700 words)
Up to the fiirst 10,000 words of the novel
Submissions will open on 2nd February and close on 11:59PM on 2nd May 2026.
Full terms and conditions are available here.
What is a synopsis?
A synopsis has just one function: to communicate the core shape of your story. We’re looking to see if the plot developments will satisfy readers of the genre. Narrate events in the order they are revealed to the reader. Give all the key plot points away! We want to know what happens in the beginning, middle and end, even if you think you’re giving away the twists.
How to enter
When submissions open on 2nd February, please fill in the form that will be live on this page and upload your submission by midnight on 2nd May 2026. The form will only become available once submissions open.
By entering the competition, you agree to the terms and conditions here. You can find more information on how we will process your personal data in our privacy notice here.
Prizes
The winner will receive £2,500 prize money plus:
A 1000-word piece of editorial feedback;
A one-hour follow-up online editorial session with a senior Bookouture editor;
An introductory meeting with a literary agent;
An interactive session (either in-person or online) with the Bookouture team about digital publishing;
A hamper of Bookouture books.
The winner’s entry will also be taken forward to Bookouture’s acquisitions meeting and considered for full digital publication under our no advance 45% royalty model. Bookouture does not guarantee that the winner will be offered a publishing contract.
The runner-up will receive £1,500 prize money plus:
A 1000-word piece of editorial feedback;
A one-hour follow-up online mentoring session with a Bookouture editor;
A hamper of Bookouture books.
A second runner-up will receive £750 prize money plus:
A 1000-word piece of editorial feedback;
A hamper of Bookouture books.
The prize is sponsored by John Seaton, Mo Siewcharran’s husband and co-founder of the prize, and NielsenIQ BookData.
The Judges
Ellen Gleeson (Publishing Director at Bookouture)
Hennah Sandhu (former co-chair of Thrive, Hachette UK’s network for Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage employees and allies)
Leodora Darlington (editor, Bookseller Rising Star, and author of The Exes)
Silé Edwards (Literary Agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates)
Jenn Li (book influencer @bookmarkonthewall)
About Bookouture
Bookouture is the global digital-first publisher of bestselling commercial fiction and winner of Imprint of the Year at The British Book Awards 2025.
Founded in 2012, we joined Hachette in 2017 and are recognised as one of the most dynamic forces in publishing. Our unique publishing model and transformative campaigns have created unrivalled international author brands, including Freida McFadden, Angela Marsons, Daniel Hurst, Kaylie Smith and Harper Graham.
Frequently asked questions
What does unpublished mean?
For this prize, unpublished means you have never had any book previously published by a publisher (and are not under contract to have your work published). Self-published writers are eligible to enter the competition, provided that if they are offered a publishing contract they are willing to remove the relevant work from any retailers where it is currently selling.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible for this prize if you are aged 18 or over, a UK resident and from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background. You must also be unagented and unpublished at the point of submission. Full terms and conditions are available here.
Please contact mosiewcharranprize@hachette.co.uk for any queries.
#MoPrize2026
Good luck!