Under-Represented UK Horror Authors Check Out The Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize
July 25
Deadline: July 25th, 2025
Prize: A publishing contract with Penguin Michael Joseph, with a £10,000 advance, and representation by Bell Lomax Moreton Agency.
Theme: Horror novels by under-represented UK horror authors
Penguin Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Books, is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and non-fiction.
We are proud to be entering our third year of The Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize to find new authors from underrepresented backgrounds who we can bring to the widest possible readership.
Last year, we asked for submissions in the romance genre and were thrilled to announce Brandon Purves, whose debut novel Do Not Kiss Nicholas Prince publishes Summer 2026, as our second Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers Prize winner.
This year we want something scary! If you’re an aspiring horror author, we want to hear from you. We’re looking for the best horror novels that have a strong hook and even stronger atmosphere.
What’s the prize?
The winner of the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers’ Prize will receive a publishing contract with Penguin Michael Joseph, with a £10,000 advance, and representation by Bell Lomax Moreton Agency.
Two runner-up writers will also receive one-to-one editorial feedback and guidance from an editor or agent.
Who are the judges?
Jorgie Bain
Jorgie Bain has worked in the industry for nearly 4 years but has had a lifelong passion for storytelling in all its forms, birthed from an overactive imagination and a tendency to watch horror films while eating breakfast. Jorgie has worked on some incredible authors such as Raven Kennedy, Frances White, Stacia Stark, Danielle L. Jenson, Kate Dramis, Josh Winning and Simone St. James, to name a few, and is a champion for conversation-starting books
C.J. Tudor
C. J. Tudor’s love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert. Over the years she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, dog walker, voiceover, television presenter and copywriter.
She is now the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalk Man, The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Other People, The Burning Girls, The Drift and The Gathering. All of her books are in development or optioned for TV. The Burning Girls debuted on Paramount Plus in 2023 and is now available on Netflix. She is also the author of a short story collection, A Sliver of Darkness.
Julie Gourinchas
Julie Gourinchas is developing a selective list of upmarket and literary adult fiction at Bell Lomax Moreton. An editorially-minded agent, she is drawn to uncommon voices and striking, intelligent writing. Authors she represents have been nominated for the British Book Awards, the Hugo Awards, the BSFA Awards, and the Saltire National Book Awards, among others, and she loves nothing more than discovering and developing exciting new debut talent. Above all, she is looking for hooky, high-concept work, but her taste can perhaps be best summarised as “the weird, dark, and gruesome” — perfect for a horror prize.
Sinead Hanna
Sinead Hanna is a book-loving content creator and podcaster celebrating all things horror on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram (@sineadhannacraic).
Based in Kent, her insightful and witty recommendations for horror reads have amassed a loyal following online, with YouTube series on gothic fiction & folk horror gaining hundreds of thousands of views. From classic ghost stories to campy summer slashers, Sinead is into it.
Adeela Badshah
Adeela Badshah is the Non-Fiction Range Manager at Waterstones responsible for various lifestyle genres including travel, cookery and personal development. With a background in photography and publishing, Adeela joined the company in 2016 as a bookseller working at the Nottingham and Brighton branches before joining the head office Books Team in 2022. She has been an avid reader of horror writing from an early age and there is very little that can unnerve her, except maybe the ‘Jaws’ theme song.
FAQs
What will I win?
The winner will receive an offer of a publishing contract worth £10,000, and representation from Bell Lomax Moreton Agency. They’ll be mentored through completing their manuscript by a Penguin Michael Joseph Editor, and the book will be published on the Penguin Michael Joseph list.
The two runners up writers will receive one-to-one editorial feedback and advice on publishing from a Penguin Michael Joseph editor and/or an agent at Bell Lomax Moreton Agency.
Who is eligible to enter? What does “under-represented” mean?
We’re looking for writers from any background that’s currently deemed under-represented in UK publishing, including but not limited to writers from a socio-economically marginalised background, Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer) writers or disabled writers.
This will be self-defined by the applicant during the application process.
Can I still enter if I have a great idea for a novel in a different genre e.g. crime/thriller?
For 2025/26, we are only accepting entries within the horror genre. However, this will be an annual prize, and next year we will be looking for submissions in a different genre. Keep an eye on our social channels @michaeljbooks for news!
For more information about other great opportunities from Penguin Random House, as well as lots of helpful advice about getting published, check out the ‘Getting Published’ hub here.
What do I need to include in my entry? What is a “synopsis”?
You can enter via the form, and all you need to include is the first 2,000 words of the book, and a 500 word synopsis. A synopsis is a brief overview of the how your plot progresses from beginning to end. We don’t need all the little details and side plots, but a clear sense of your overall narrative and the key plot beats and character arcs.
I’ve only just started my book project. Can I still enter?
Yes, providing you have enough material to complete the application form – the first 2,000 words of your novel, and a short pitch to tell us why we should be excited about it. You have until 25th July to send us the material, so we hope you might have time to start that book you’ve always been meaning to write.
What will happen next? When will I find out if I’m the winner?
We’re expecting a lot of entries, so we’ll need a little while to read them. We’ll contact everyone by 2nd September 2025 to let them know if they’ve made it to the next round, when we’ll ask for a longer piece of writing from the novel to help us choose our shortlist – we’ll also give you time to write that.
On 18th November 2025 we’ll announce our shortlist and again give them a little more time to write a bit more of the novel before making their final entry. The winner is due to be announced 2nd March 2026.
Will the judges read every entry?
The judging panel will read all shortlisted entries. Members of the team from Penguin Michael Joseph and Bell Lomax Moreton Agency will be reading and reviewing every entry.
Will I get any feedback on my application?
Due to the volume of submissions expected, we unfortunately are not able to give individual feedback to every applicant. If you are one of the runners up, you will receive personalised one-on-one feedback on your work from one of our editors.
What if I win and I don’t accept the terms of the acquisition/advance? Can I take my project elsewhere?
We would hope that we can agree a deal that is acceptable to you. However, if you decide that the terms are unacceptable, you are entitled to reject them. In that event, we may select another winner from the group of shortlisted writers.
If I win, when will my book be published?
A publishing schedule will be drawn up depending on the project and taking into account how much material is already written, and a publication date will be decided collaboratively, with the winning writer, your agent, and Penguin Michael Joseph. For most books, we would expect to publish approximately a year after a final manuscript is delivered.
Can I enter if I already have a literary agent?
Unfortunately not. We want to discover new voices and writers who don’t already have access to the publishing industry. The winner will be offered representation by Bell Lomax Moreton Agency.
If you already have a literary agent, you can ask them to submit your work to an editor at Penguin Michael Joseph separately from this prize.
Can I enter if I’ve already had work published? What if I’m self-published, published in another format or genre, or published as part of an anthology?
We aren’t able to accept applications from writers who have had a book published in the UK before. We would be happy to receive applications from writers who have been published in another format altogether such as a magazine or newspaper.
Can I submit my project to you outside of the prize?
Penguin Michael Joseph does not accept unsolicited submissions while the prize is open, but we are continuing to receive submissions via literary agents. Please follow us on social media to find out more information on how to get published.
Can I submit more than one manuscript?
Unfortunately not. We are accepting only one entry per applicant.
Question not answered above?
Get in touch with us on Twitter: @MichaelJBooks or Instagram: @MichaelJBooks.
For further advice and opportunities from Penguin Random House on getting published, click below.
Via: Penguin
