Press release - Embargoed until midday (UK time) on Thursday 28th July 2022
It's time to reveal the eagerly anticipated third Diverse Book Awards Longlist
Introducing the latest, must-read list of diverse & inclusive children's, YA and adult fiction books in the UK
#TheDBAwards
London, United Kingdom, 28thJuly 2022:More than 110 submissions were received for the third year of The Diverse Book Awards, created by publishing entrepreneurs Abiola Bello (award-winning author) and Helen Lewis (prize-winning publicist). Today, the longlist is officially uncovered, revealing the outstanding diverse and inclusive books published by authors based in the UK and Ireland during 2021. The shortlist will be revealed on 20thSeptember and the winners in each category announced on October 20th2022.
Abiola Bello, co-founder of The DBAs: "I was overwhelmed by the entries for this year's awards! We had entries from the big 5, indies and self-published authors and the standard was so high. I love learning about new books from authors I haven't heard about, but I also really like seeing the new books from authors who have been listed before because it shows that these authors are continuously bringing the diverse content that I crave. The Diverse Book Awards continues to bring to light the best diverse books. I know the judges had a very hard time judging and I am very proud of the longlist. I hope everyone champions these amazing authors."
Helen Lewis, co-founder of The DBAs: "There was a 40% increase in the number of diverse and inclusive books that were submitted to The Diverse Book Awards compared to last year and a staggering 125% increase since our first year. This is wonderful news not just for the Prize itself, as it is gaining further recognition and acceptance within the publishing industry, but it also demonstrates that more and more books are being released by publishers. The Diverse Book Awards was one of the first prizes to be open to self-published as well as traditionally published authors. For readers, it is about the story itself, not the route to publication, that matters. Over the past three years, we've been able to collate an original and powerful list that libraries, booksellers and schools tell us they refer to time and time again.. Over the next few months, as the shortlist then winners are announced, we really hope that the book trade, readers, publishers, writers and media get fully behind The Diverse Book Awards to amplify these amazing books."
Prizes
The winner from each category will receive a bundle of prizes including a beautiful glass trophy, VIP admission to 12 months of author marketing and branding online workshops hosted byLiterally PR, editorial content inPen&Incand the opportunity to be part of the winners panel hosted byThe Author School.That Playlist Book Boxwill create a limited edition winners' book box.
The YA and Children's winner will have a dedicated page on the Peterswebsite, and a book signing atWonderlandBookshop.
The Children's winner will be part of an online panel hosted byMadeleine Milburn Literary Agency, featured as aWorld Book DayUK Book Club pick and be part of Big Wig Children's Festival at theWigtown Book Festival.
The YA winner will be part of theNational Teen Book Club, a UK wide virtual book club for teens and Wigtown YA at the Wigtown Book Festival.
The Adult winner will do a book signing atPages of Hackneybookshop.
The Diverse Book Awards Longlist 2022
Adult Longlist 2022
Black Water Sisterby Zen Cho (Pan Macmillan)
His Only Wifeby Peace Adzo Medie (Oneworld)
Next of Kinby Kia Abdullah (HQ)
Open Waterby Caleb Azumah Nelson (Viking Books)
Ten Daysby Austin Duffy (Granta)
The Bread The Devil Kneadby Lisa Allen-Agostini (Myriad Editions)
The Day I Fell Off My Islandby Yvonne Bailey-Smith (Myriad Editions)
The Island of Missing Treesby Elif Shafak (Viking Books)
The Jigsaw Manby Nadine Matheson (HQ)
The Khanby Saima Mir (Point Blank)
This One Sky Dayby Leone Ross (Faber)
The Reading Listby Sara Nisha Adams (HarperCollins)
Young Adult Longlist 2022
Ace of Spadesby Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Usborne)
Being Amaniby Annabelle Steele (Hashtag BLAK)
Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Datingby Adiba Jaigirdar (Hodder Children's Books)
I am Winterby Denise Brown (Hashtag Press)
Skin of The Seaby Natasha Bowen (Penguin Random House Children's)
Splinters of Sunshineby Patrice Lawrence (Hodder Children's Books)
Stay Another Dayby Juno Dawson (Quercus Children's Group)
The Crossingby Manjeet Mann (Penguin Random House Children's)
The Henna Warsby Adiba Jaigirdar (Hodder Children's Books)
This Is My Truthby Yasmin Rahman (Hot Key Books)
What We're Scared Ofby Keren David (Scholastic)
You're The One That I Wantby Simon James Green (Scholastic)
Children's Longlist 2022
Danny Chung Does Not DoMaths by Maisie Chan, illustrated by Anh Cao (Piccadilly Press)
Hey You!by Dapo Adeola, Diane Ewan, Onyinye Iwu, Jade Orlando, Bec Glendining, Derick Brooks, Joelle Avelino, Dunni Mustapha, Kingsley Nebechi, Chanté Timothy, Nicole Miles, Camilla Sucre, Jobe Anderson, Alyissa Johnson, Chatlot Kristensen, Sharee Miller, Reggie Brown, Selom Sunu, Gladys Jose (Penguin Random House Children's)
How I Saved the World In A Weekby Polly Ho-Yen, illustrated by George Ermos (Simon & Schuster Children's UK)
Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdomby Sangu Mandanna (Hodder Children's Group)
Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbowby Benjamin Dean, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Simon & Schuster Children's UK)
Rumaysa: A Fairytaleby Radiya Hafiza, illustrated by Rhaida El Touny (Macmillan Children's Books)
The Best Diwali Everby Sonali Shah, illustrator Chaaya Prabhat (Scholastic)
The Lightning Catcherby Claire Weze (Bloomsbury Children's Books)
The Rapping Princessby Hannah Lee, illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan (Faber)
The Shark Callerby Zillah Bethell (Usborne)
The Very Merry Murder Clubby Abiola Bello, Annabelle Sami, Benjamin Dean, Dominique Valente, Elle McNicoll, E.L. Norry, Maisie Chan, Roopa Farooki, Nizrana Farook, Patrice Lawrence, Joanna Williams, Serena Patel, Sharna Jackson, illustrated by Harry Woodgate. Edited by Robin Stevens and Serena Patel (Farshore)
Vi Spy: Licence to Chillby Maz Evans (Chicken House)
Notes to editors
Abiola Bello and Helen Lewis are available for media interviews.
Award enquiries tohello@thediversebookawards.co.uk.
Press folder:https://bit.ly/DBAs2022
Media enquiries toinfo@literallypr.com.
Online links:
www.thediversebookawards.co.uk
instagram.com/thediversebookawards
facebook.com/TheDiverseBookAwards
Bookshop link:https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TheDiverseBookAwards
Sponsors of The Diverse Book Awards
YA Headline sponsor: Book Clubs in Schoolshttps://bookclubsinschools.org/