GROW YOUR STORY WITH HACHETTE THRIVE

Submissions are now open for the free creative writing development scheme, aimed at supporting and nurturing writers of colours of the future.

In partnership with Hachette THRIVE, David Higham Associates (DHA) and The Future Bookshelf, Grow Your Story provides ten unagented romance writers from Black, Asian or mixed heritage backgrounds, based in the UK and have not been traditionally published, with the opportunity to develop their novels, demystify the publishing process and provide them with the practical skills essential for all published authors.

The selected writers will have access to a series of online workshops run by industry professionals as well as one-to-one mentorship from a Hachette UK editor and a David Higham Associates agent. Following this, all writers will be invited to an open day at Hachette UK’s London office in Spring 2026.

The shortlisted 10 writers will be selected by a judging panel comprised of authors Mike Gayle (Hodder & Stoughton) and Stephanie Yeboah (Orion), Maddalena Cavaciuti, Literary Agent (DHA) and Sanah Ahmed, Commissioning Editor (Orion) – with the support of HUK THRIVE co-chairs Nicole Thomas and Hennah Sandhu.

KEY DATES

28th August 2025 – Submissions open

1st October 2025 – Submissions close

20th November 2025 – ten writers selected

January 2026 – programme commences

Please contact thefuturebookshelf@hachette.co.uk for any queries.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are requested to send:

A 3,000-word sample of your work (Please ensure your submission is in a standard font and your attachment is in a .PDF, .doc or .docx format)

A short synopsis (Consider this a blurb, like you’d read on the back cover of a novel. If you’re unsure how to start writing a blurb for your book, take a look at a book you think is similar to yours and see how they have approached it. Keep this to 500 words.)

An overview of who your target audience for the book would be (Please let us know who your intended reader is – what other books might they enjoy reading, what TV shows or movies do they like, what culture do they consume? Keep this to 100 words.)

APPLY NOW

FAQS

Am I eligible to apply?

You are eligible for this prize if you are aged 18 or over, a UK resident, identify as Black, Asian or mixed heritage. You must also be unagented and unpublished at the point of submission. Full terms and conditions are available here.

What does unpublished mean?

For this programme, unpublished means you have never had any book previously published by a publisher (and are not under contract to have your work published).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.

What does unagented mean?

For this programme, unagented means that you or any pseudonyms you might write under are not represented by a literary agent or agency.

Do I have to pay to be involved?

There will be no costs for writers to take part and the programme is open to writers in the UK. 

What will happen to my work after I submit it?

After submitting your work, it will be read and reviewed by a staff from across HUK and the THRIVE employee network for the first stage. The judging panel will then read and shortlist the final 10 writers taking part in the programme.

When will I find out if I have been selected or not?

You will receive an automated email to let you know we have received your submission. We will then, in due course, email everyone with our final decision on whether they have been selected for the 2025 programme. Please note only 10 writers will be selected for the 2025 programme.

By entering the competition, you agree to the terms and conditions, click here to read the full terms and conditions

You can find more information on how we will process your personal data in our privacy notice here.

Entries must be submitted by midnight on the 1st October 2025.

THE JUDGES

Mike Gayle, Author

Mike Gayle has been a bestselling novelist for 25 years, and his books have been translated into more than 30 languages. The Man I Think I Know was selected for the Zoe Ball Book Club, and Half the World Away and The Song of Me & You were both Richard & Judy Book Club picks. Mike was longlisted for Best UK Author at the Specsavers National Book Awards and shortlisted for the Pageturner of the Year Award at the British Book Awards. In 2021, Mike received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists Association. To date, Mike has sold over three million copies of his novels. He lives in Birmingham with his family.s

Stephanie Yeboah, Author

Stephanie Yeboah is a writer, content creator, and long-time advocate for body positivity and mental health. Her work focuses on plus-size fashion, body image, beauty, travel, and lifestyle, often blending raw honesty with sharp pop culture commentary. Stephanie is the author of two books: Fattily Ever After and debut romance fiction Chaotic Energy, both of which explore identity, self-worth, and empowerment. She has contributed to major publications including British Vogue, Elle, The Guardian and Glamour, among others.

Sanah Ahmed, Commissioning Editor

Sanah Ahmed is a Commissioning Editor at Orion Fiction, an imprint of Orion, where she works across romance, commercial and bookclub fiction. She is spearheading the first Muslim Romance Festival, an event which aims to amplify Muslim voices in romance, and will be taking place in September.

Maddalena Cavaciuti, Literary Agent

Maddalena is a Literary Agent and Head of Audio at David Higham Associates. She runs DHA’s Open Days for Under-Represented Writers and is building a list of commercial fiction, specifically looking for romance and romcoms, fantasy, and crime, thrillers and mysteries.