Bookouture to host the Mo Siewcharran Prize 2026 seeking romance and psychological thriller submissions
Bookouture will host the Mo Siewcharran Prize in 2026, giving commercial fiction writers the opportunity to win £2,500 and a possible publishing contract.
Submissions will open on 2 February 2026 and close on 2 May 2026. To enter, writers must submit the first 10,000 words of their novel and a synopsis of up to 700 words on the competition website.
This year, Bookouture will be focusing on novels that sit firmly within the commercial fiction genres of either psychological thriller or romance.
Launched in 2019, the prize is named in memory of NielsenIQ BookData’s former Director of Marketing and Communications, Mo Siewcharran, and aims to nurture talent from writers from a Black, Asian, minority ethnic and/or mixed heritage background. It runs as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf initiative and is sponsored by John Seaton, Mo Siewcharran’s husband and co-founder of the prize, as well as NielsenIQ BookData.
John Seaton said,
“I am thrilled that in its seventh year Bookouture will be hosting the Mo Siewcharran Prize. Their publishing of commercial fiction is energetic and their method unique. This will be an exciting partnership.”
Jenny Geras, Managing Director of Bookouture said,
“It’s an incredible honour for Bookouture to be hosting the Mo Siewcharran Prize this year. The opportunity to combine our expertise in page-turning commercial fiction with the prize’s mission to support new talent from under-represented backgrounds, is a really exciting one. I’m looking forward to discovering some amazing new writers.”
The winner of the prize will receive £2,500, a 1,000-word piece of editorial feedback on their novel, and a follow-up online session with an editor. They will also be offered an introductory meeting with a literary agent and invited to an interactive session with the Bookouture team to learn about digital publishing. The winner’s entry will also be taken forward to Bookouture’s acquisitions meeting and considered for publication under their no advance 45% royalty model.
The second and third place runners-up will receive £1,500 and £750 prize money respectively, plus editorial feedback and a hamper of Bookouture books.
The judging panel will consist of 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, author of The Exes, Silé Edwards, Literary Agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, and Jenn Li, book influencer @bookmarkonthewall.
Judges will be looking for a well-written and entertaining piece of writing with an attention-grabbing concept, also known as the hook.
Ellen Gleeson, Publishing Director at Bookouture and judge for the prize added,
“We’re looking for totally addictive stories that fans of either psychological thrillers or romance reads won’t be able to put down. Us judges will be looking for a gripping plot that drives us through the pages and memorable characters we can’t help but root for. I can’t wait to start reading!”
A longlist will be announced on 15 June 2026 and a shortlist later in the year on 8 September 2026. The winner and runners-up will be announced at a central London awards ceremony on the 24 September 2026.
Bookouture are the fastest-growing global publisher of bestselling commercial fiction and winner of Imprint of the Year at The British Book Awards 2025. They are the home of mass market bestsellers and unrivalled international author brands including Freida McFadden, Angela Marsons and Kaylie Smith.
Last year the award was hosted by Trapeze and focused on non-fiction. Yin F Lim won for The Ties That Bind.
Find out more at The Future Bookshelf website.
