#Merky Books has announced Jyoti Patel as the winner of the New Writers’ Prize 2021, a competition that aims to discover unpublished, underrepresented writers aged 16-30 from the UK and Ireland. Jyoti Patel’s winning submission is called Six of One, a coming-of-age story that explores what it means to be a person of colour in Britain today.

#Merky Books was founded in 2018 by Stormzy and Penguin Random House UK, #Merky Books is an award-winning publishing imprint that aims to create a home for stories that are often underrepresented in the publishing world.

In April, #Merky Books are launching their New Writers’ Prize Alumni in partnership with the RSL, which will provide all previous, current and future longlisted writers of the prize with ongoing mentorship, advice and a space to connect with each other. RSL Chair Daljit Nagra and Director Molly Rosenberg commented:

‘We at the RSL are thrilled and honoured to be working with #Merky Books, an important press whose work and publications must be taken seriously as an essential contribution to the life of British literature.’
– Daljit Nagra, RSL Chair

‘We know that literature is at its best, most alive, most captivating and reflective of our society when it comes from the greatest breadth of backgrounds, experiences and insights. We know too how important it is that writers get support and access to other writers and readers from the very earliest times of their careers. As the RSL turns 200, we’re thrilled to be celebrating and supporting these new voices, and being part of their development over the coming years.’
– Molly Rosenberg, RSL Director