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The Borough Press and The Good Literary Agency open submissions

Information
Closing date: 
31 March 2019
Entry: 
UK residents and British Citizens (including those residing abroad) without a literary agent and of black, Asian or minority ethnic background No entry fee
Prize: 
£10,000 publishing contract, agency representation and mentoring from writer Nikesh Shukla

The Borough Press has teamed up with The Good Literary Agency to open submissions for un-agented BAME writers with the one winning applicant set to secure a £10,000 publishing contract, agency representation and mentoring from writer Nikesh Shukla.

Assistant editor Ore Agbaje-Williams is calling for authors from BAME backgrounds who have written a literary or literary-commercial novel in keeping with the spirit of The Borough Press list - books people want to talk about, either to question or agree; books that span the globe, whether near home or far afield; energetic, modern and eclectic books that inspire passion in readers - to enter the open submission.

Writers are invited to submit the first three chapters/50 pages of their novel (up to 10,000 words) to boroughsubmissions@harpercollins.co.uk from 1st January - 31st March 2019, along with a synopsis of the book and author biography.

Agbaje-Williams said: "The different backgrounds and heritages of our society are under-represented in various areas across the media, including publishing, and The Borough Press is hugely committed to enabling more of these voices to be heard. That's why open submission periods like these for BAME writers are important. To make clear to agents, writers, future editors, and the industry that there is a place for these writers, there are readers who want them. I'm delighted that we can take steps to bring those writers and their stories to a wider audience with The Good Literary Agency."

The winner will be mentored by Shukla and receive a publishing contract with the HarperFiction imprint, representation from The Good Literary Agency. Judges from HarperCollins and The Good Literary Agency will pick the winner based on their work's quality and commercial potential.

Entered novels do not have to be complete, but must be written in English. All submissions will be read and judged by the imprint's editors, other members of staff from HarperCollins and The Good Literary Agency.

More details

Closing date: 
31 March 2019
Entry: 
UK residents and British Citizens (including those residing abroad) without a literary agent and of black, Asian or minority ethnic background No entry fee
Prize: 
£10,000 publishing contract, agency representation and mentoring from writer Nikesh Shukla