JKP Writing Prize 2025: Winners

Jessica Kingsley Publishers (JKP) is proud to announce that the winners have been selected for the JKP Writing Prize 2025.

JKP’s overall publishing mission is to create social justice through words that celebrate diversity and equality for all, and the writing prize continues this mission by allowing new, emerging and un-agented writers to share their lived experience.

This year’s theme focused on giving a voice to those who remain vastly underrepresented or are left out of the mainstream conversation when it comes to disability and chronic illness. Entrants were asked to share their stories on:

Joy and resilience in the face of daily challenges

Resistance, activism and fighting against ableism in all its forms

Personal stories of triumph, solidarity, and empowerment with disabled communities

The 10 emerging writers whose work powerfully explores these themes are Alexandra Adams, Mary FitzMeilton, Matthew Hayhow, Shazz Jamieson-Evans, Wynn Mckeon, Sarah Tooke, Shaista Tayabali, Elin Williams, Mirko Yimesghen and Anica Zeyen.

Winners were chosen by judges, Pippa Stacey, JKP author of How to Do Life with a Chronic Illness, Andrew Gurza, JKP author of Notes from a Queer Cripple and Shandi Dhanda, multi-award-winning disability activist. JKP would like to thank the judges for the time and consideration taken to read all the entries and select our winners.

The winning entries will be published in an upcoming anthology in 2027, showcasing a range of personal essays that offer new perspectives on disability and chronic illness. All winners will also receive a cash prize for their entry.

Commissioning editor Jenny Edwards said: “We are incredibly impressed by the 10 winning pieces and cannot wait for them to be out in the world. The writers have done an excellent job at sharing their stories and weaving them into unique narratives of hope and empowerment.”

The anthology contributes to the growing collection of anthologies from previous iterations of the prize, including Roots and Rebellion (2024) and Transitions (2021).