From 14^th January 2019, The Emma Press will be accepting picture book proposals for children. Successful proposals will be matched with an illustrator, and authors who illustrate their own work are also welcome to submit. Find out more here: https://theemmapress.com/2018/11/call-for-picture-book-manuscripts/

I’ve known The Emma Press for a while now, as an energetic and exciting Birmingham-based poetry publisher with a strong reputation for bringing translated work to the UK. They are now branching out into picture books, and having seen some of their illustrated books, I am looking forward to some wonderful, high quality publications. Good luck to all who apply!

Back in June, I posted a survey into how many single-authored children’s books (7-11 age range) by BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) writers were due for release in 2018. I can only apologise for the delay in publishing the results – it has just been a really busy year. Anyway, this is a small sample of 6 respondents and therefore limited conclusions can be drawn (you should wait for the big research by Book Trust and Melanie Ramdarshan Bold!), but I thought people might be interested to see the results anyway.

Key conclusions:

• Small publishers are doing a much better job of publishing BAME authors than medium-to-large publishers.
• 50% of respondents were publishing no BAME authors at all in 2018.
• 7% of forthcoming titles in the 7 – 11 age range are by BAME authors. 13% of the general UK population is of BAME origin. This is a discrepancy of nearly 50%.

Full data (you will need a .pdf viewer. Please let me know in the comments if it isn’t working.):
How many BAME children’s authors are being published in 2018.ods

The survey remains open at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VP5ST3T so if your organisation has not yet completed it, please feel free to do so and I will update as soon as I have enough data.

Late to this party, but there’s still time to apply for this excellent opportunity:

“Penguin has launched WriteNow – a programme which aims to find, mentor and publish new writers and illustrators from communities under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves!

WriteNow offers:

• Free workshops in Liverpool, London or Nottingham where budding writers and illustrators can learn more about the publishing process, hear from published authors and literary agents, and receive one-on-one feedback on their work from one of our editors or designers;
• Chance to join our mentoring programme, being matched with a Penguin editor or designer for a year to develop their book or artwork;
• Aimed at people from under-represented communities including Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) writers, LGBTQ writers, writers with disabilities and writers from socio-economically marginalised backgrounds
• Open to illustrators of children’s picture books this year for the first time.

Now entering its third year, WriteNow is already having a tangible impact on our publishing – so far we’ve signed deals with 5 writers from the programme, with many more to come.

To apply, writers and illustrators need to visit www.write-now.live. The deadline for applications is Monday 9 July.”

An opportunity that may be of interest – NEW deadline: 5th August 2018.)

The Lancaster Playwriting Prize is a new initiative arising out of the cultural partnership between Lancaster University and The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster; it is supported by Lucy Briers, Tamasha Theatre Company and Arts Council England. In this inaugural year, the Prize is focused on BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) playwrights. The aim is not just to discover new voices, but to empower playwrights from culturally diverse backgrounds in general by building skills, confidence and networks.

All longlisted scripts will be read in full. Up to five shortlisted finalists will have their script workshopped with professional actors and directors, and see extracts performed at a public showcase event held at The Dukes, Lancaster.

The winner will receive £1500 and will be invited to become part of the Tamasha Playwrights group for 2018/19, receiving tailored training and mentoring as they develop their careers (http://www.tamasha.org.uk/tamasha-playwrights/). The winner will also receive travel support to attend weekly Tamasha Playwrights workshops in London from October 2018 to July 2019. Two of the other shortlisted writers will receive writer on attachment bursaries at The Dukes of £500 each (with further support to cover travel costs); these postings will entail mentorship opportunities and the chance to observe the development of two shows at the theatre.

• The window for scripts opens on 23^rd April 2018. Scripts must be emailed by noon 22^nd June 2018.
• The competition is open to any BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) writers who are originally from, resident or work in the North West of England. For the purposes of this prize, the North West consists of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
• Writers must be over 16.
• The play must be an original, unpublished and unproduced piece of work. It cannot have had a professional production anywhere in the world. For the purposes of this prize, development performances (such as rehearsed readings and workshops) do not constitute full productions; amateur productions also do not count as full productions under these criteria.
• Adaptations of existing works of musical theatre, radio, television or other media are not eligible; translations of said works are also excluded.
• Musical theatre scripts are not eligible.
• Scripts must be a minimum of 40 minutes long and all pages must be numbered.
• For more details on how to enter and our criteria, please go to www.lancaster.ac.uk/playwriting or email lancasterplaywriting@lancaster.ac.uk

The well-known literary agency Blake Friedmann have re-opened applications for the  Carole Blake Open Doors Project – a two week, all-expenses-paid work shadowing scheme for candidates from backgrounds that are under-represented in publishing. There are more details here:

http://blakefriedmann.co.uk/carole-blake-open-doors-project/  . The deadline for applications is 18^th May.

More about the scheme from Hattie Grunewald at the agency:

The Carole Blake Open Doors Project, is a programme specifically aimed at encouraging candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds to enter the publishing industry. Carole Blake was born in south London, and grew up in a house which did not have many books. When she left school at the age of sixteen with hopes of becoming a librarian, she found a job as secretary at George Rainbird Publishing. The experience kick-started her love of art, broadened her education, and introduced her to the classics. She moved to Michael Joseph in 1970, becoming the publisher’s first Rights Manager, and in 1975 joined Sphere Publishing to run their rights, contracts and publicity teams. After founding her own literary agency with some of the authors she’d come to know and love, Carole merged agencies with Julian Friedmann in 1982 to create the Blake Friedmann Agency.

The Carole Blake Open Doors Project will offer ten days of work shadowing to a selected applicant over a two-week period, including funding for travel and up to twelve nights’ accommodation in London. The programme, which will run twice a year, will include close mentorship with Blake Friedmann’s book agents, the opportunity to attend selected meetings with editors and clients, and the chance to be involved in every aspect of day-to-day life as an agent. It is intended that candidates will come away from the project with varied knowledge of working for a leading literary agency, the beginnings of new and essential relationships in the publishing industry, and some excellent experience to include on their CVs.

“Carole offered me my first internship in publishing at Blake Friedman. She was a formidable figure, yet warm and funny. She was deeply encouraging to me as one from a diverse background based on my age, class and race – though it was our mutual love of a great pair of shoes that really sealed the deal!  An unforgettable, truly phenomenal woman.” – Valerie Brandes, Founder & Publisher, Jacaranda Books, and former BFA intern
Carole Blake and the Blake Friedmann team have always placed great value on diversity and openness, in the company’s client list as well as its hiring practices. We aim to build on this foundation and be proactive about drawing from a wider pool of talented applicants who are passionate about books and ambitious about getting a job in publishing.

You can read an account of taking part in the project from our first Open Doors intern Ada Igwebu here.