A shortlist has been released for the 2026 Mo Siewcharran Prize, which was launched in 2019 "to nurture talent from writers from a Black, Asian, minority ethnic and/or mixed heritage background." This year the prize, run as part of Hachette UK's Future Bookshelf initiative, is being hosted by Bookouture, focusing on romance and psychological thriller submissions. The shortlisted titles are:
The Benefits of Marriage by Amara Ede
The Other Woman by Claudia Amuah
The Song Beneath the Snow by F.G. Liauw
The Eldest Daughter by Sara Anum
Unquiet Sleep by Shyama Kasinathan
Named in memory of NielsenIQ BookData's former director of marketing and communications, the prize is sponsored by John Seaton, Siewcharran's husband and co-founder of the prize, as well as NielsenIQ BookData.
The winner and two runners-up will be named at a prize ceremony in London on September 24. The winner receives £2,500 (about $3,385), 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 be taken forward to Bookouture's acquisitions meeting and considered for publication under its no advance 45% royalty model.
The second and third place runners-up will receive £1,500 (about $2,030) and £750 (about $1,015) prize money respectively, along with editorial feedback and a hamper of Bookouture books.