After studying songwriting at university and returning to Suffolk to set up a music tuition business, Georgia Gant finally decided to get serious about her writing dream. 

After a couple of years writing novels and learning the ropes, she was chosen by Anna Mainwaring for the WriteMentor 2020 Summer Mentoring Programme and went on to sign with Joanna Moult of Skylark Literary Agency. 

She’s usually found reading YA, writing YA, watching YA films, or discussing YA ideas with her disinterested rescue dog.  

What made you apply for the WriteMentor programme?

After studying music at university, I decided writing novels was something I really wanted to pursue. In 2019, I thought my latest, a YA contemporary titled Guitars, Bras and Heading for the Stars, might be strong enough to get somewhere. I worked on it with the lovely Aisha Bushby during WriteMentor’s Preparing for Submission course, and right around the time that course finished, applications for the 2020 Summer Mentoring Programme opened up. I thought this was an amazing opportunity, and one I could never have afforded without WriteMentor’s free initiative. To my joy, Anna Mainwaring — YA contemporary extraordinaire — saw potential in my novel and chose me for the programme! 

Read more here.

Submissions

We're looking for manuscripts aimed at young readers and your work must fit into one of these two categories:

1. A picture book for 4 years plus. No more than 800 words OR

2. A short chapter book for the 7–9 age range between 10,000–15,000 words

All manuscripts must feature a Black or mixed-Black main character. (Read our FAQs for more guidance.)

The prize

The winner of each category will receive:

• £500 cash, funded by Knights Of

• Editorial consultancy with Anna McQuinn from Alanna Max or Carla Hutchinson from Piccadilly Press and Hot Key Books at Bonnier Books

• Design consultancy with author-illustrator Ken Wilson-Max from Alanna Max

After that, if you manage to publish your book you'll also receive:

• A listing with inclusive-led bookshop Round Table Books in their physical and online stores

• A book review published on Candid Cocoa plus six month's promotion on Candid Cocoa's social media