Grow Your Story returns looking for romance writers of colour

Mike Gayle & Stephanie Yeboah join judging panel

3 September 2025, London – THRIVE, Hachette UK’s network for Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage employees and allies, are leading Hachette UK’s Grow Your Story development programme with a mission of supporting unpublished and unagented writers of colour. This free annual development programme, now in its fourth year, forms part of Changing the Story, Hachette UK’s commitment to include all voices, perspectives, and ideas in their partnerships, people, and publishing.

In partnership with David Higham Associates (DHA), this year, Grow Your Story will will focus on the romance genre and provide 10 unpublished and unagented fiction writers of colour with the opportunity to develop their novels, demystify the publishing process, and share practical skills.

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.

Applications are open now until 1 October 2025. Writers are invited to send a 3,000-word sample of their work, a short synopsis of their novel and an overview of who the target audience for the book would be here. The 10 shortlisted writers will be selected by a judging panel comprised of authors Mike Gayle (Hodder & Stoughton) and Stephanie Yeboah (Orion), DHA agent Maddalena Cavaciuti, and Sanah Ahmed, Commissioning Editor for Orion – with the support of THRIVE co-chairs Nicole Thomas and Hennah Sandhu.

Nicole Thomas and Hennah Sandhu, co-chairs of the Hachette UK THRIVE network said: “Romance is inherently rooted in joy and connection, which is why we’re delighted to lead the fourth year of Grow Your Story with a special focus on this genre. This year, we’re particularly excited to champion writers of colour in this space, celebrating the richness and nuance of their stories, perspectives and voices – which are more vital than ever.”

Maddalena Cavaciuti, Literary Agent at David Higham Associates, said: “We are delighted to once again partner with THRIVE to support the brilliant and important Grow Your Story programme. The scheme has introduced us to many inspiring and exciting new voices over the last few years so we can’t wait to see this year’s submissions.”

Key dates

28th August 2025 – Submissions open

1st October 2025 – Submissions close

20th November 2025 – ten Grow Your Story writers selected

January 2026 – programme commences

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