The Jhalak Prize returns for 2019 with a new judging panel and an open submission window

The Jhalak Prize for book of the year by a writer of colour announces the its judging panel and opens the 2019 prize for submissions.

This year’s panel of judges is comprised of YA writer Anna Perera, poet Sabrina Mahfouz, journalist Sarah Shaffi and poet Siana Bangura.

Following a 2017 win by Reni Eddo-Lodge with her book Why I am No Longer Talking to White People About Race (Bloomsbury), the annual prize showcases the best books by British/British resident BAME writers, awarding the winner a cash prize. Eddo-Lodge was presented with a winner’s trophy created by Chris Bramble and donated by writer Dorothy Koomson.

Coordinator of the judging panel and co-founder, Sunny Singh said: “I know that the judges are very excited to start reading. In so many ways, 2018 has been a year that so many amazing, life-changing, future classics have been published. It will make the judging very difficult but all the more rewarding.”

The prize is unique in that it accepts entries published in the UK in 2018 by a writer of colour. This includes (and is limited to) fiction, non-fiction, short story, graphic novel, poetry, children’s books, YA, teen and all genres. The prize is also be open to self-published writers.

The prize will be open for submissions between 10th September 2018 and 15th December 2018 for books published between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2018.

More details on the prize terms are available here.

Prize timeline
Submission window: 10th September 2018-15^th December 2018
Longlist announcement: 28^th February 2019
Shortlist announcement: 30^th March 2019
Winner announcement: 1^st  May 2019

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