💌 The June Newsletter: A bumper selection of opportunities for writers, writer communities you should join + why you should be reading Caribbean this month
strap on in, this is your monthly lot 📞
Welcome back, subscribers!
It’s been a busy time at TONIC. I’ve just started on my edits for the titles I’m publishing next year, and I’m also getting books off to print for the Autumn (I’ve two brilliant books coming in September - Floating Home and How to Love Your Afro). Alongside this, I’m still basking in the joy of the Spring titles I’ve published. If you’re interested in finding more about these, check out this fantastic article for New Scientist on why nobody is neurodiverse and why nobody is neurotypical, from my authors, Alex Conner and James Brown. Their book, ADHD Unpacked, is all about the science behind ADHD and how to survive and thrive with it. Our other fab Spring title came from Rosie Viva, who’s book, Completely Normal and Totally Fine, shines a light on what it’s like to live with bipolar. She’ll be at Sunday Papers later this month, if you’d like to listen to her reflections and wisdom.
I’ve also had a busy freelance month - editing a wonderful self-published author, doing a fab sensitivity read for another fellow self-published author in the sci-fi space, and I’m just about to work on my first sensitivity read for HarperCollins Canada (exciting times).
Lastly, I’m deep in the picture research phase of my children’s book which is out in two years! I can’t quite believe how far along the process I am, yet how far away the publication is. Enjoying the process!
Now that’s enough for my monthly update - here’s what you can expect in this month’s free newsletter:
A bumper selection of opportunities for writers 🔮
Writer communities you should join ⏰
What you should be reading 💡
WRITER OPPORTUNITIES 🖊️
PENGUIN MICHAEL JOSEPH UNDISCOVERED WRITERS’ PRIZE ✨
Penguin Michael Joseph is a leading publisher of commercial fiction and non-fiction, and they're entering their third year of their prestigious Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers' Prize. The prize aims to find new authors from underrepresented backgrounds to bring to the widest possible readership.
This year, they're looking for horror writers. Submissions open 10th June, and the winner will receive a publishing contract with Michael Joseph, a £10,000 advance, and representation by Bell Lomax Moreton Agency. Two runner-up writers will receive one-to-one editorial feedback and guidance from editors and agent.
Entries open on the 10th June.
JOFFE BOOKS PRIZE 🔥
Joffe Books is a leading independent publishers of commercial fiction, specialising in crime and mystery fiction. Their yearly prize seeks to discover and launch unagented crime writers from Black, Asian, Indigenous, and minority ethnic backgrounds.
They’re looking for new talent, and are calling on crime fiction writers to submit their entries, from psychological thrillers, to police procedurals, to domestic noirs. The winner will win a two-book publishing deal, £1,000, a £25,000 Audible audiobook contract and a two-year membership to the Society of Authors.
You can submit your entry here - the deadline is the 30th September 2025.
THE BATH CHILDREN’S NOVEL AWARD ⚡
The Bath Children’s Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for children’s novels, YA, chapter books and picture book texts. The prize is open to unagented writers, who are unpublished, self-published or independently published without advance. We welcome writers of every age, gender, nationality and residency.
Submissions are invited from 1 March until 30 November 2025 with the winner announced in February 2026 and awarded £5,000 along with a Minerva trophy, inspired by the iconic sculpture in Bath’s Roman Baths.
GUPPY BOOKS OPEN SUBMISSION COMPETITION 🎀
For their sixth year, Guppy Books are opening their books to unagented and unpublished writers for their competition – this time for MIDDLE GRADE authors. Their submissions window is open from the 16th June to Friday 20th June. If you have a first few chapters, or up to 2000 words, submit away!
2025 QUEEN MARY WASAFIRI NEW WRITING PRIZE 👑
The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize has awarded some of the most exciting voices in life writing, poetry, and fiction from across the world. The prize has been recognising excellence in writing for over fifteen years, and past winners and shortlistees include Caleb Femi and Louise Kennedy.
This year’s competition is now open until the 30th June. Enter here!
WRITER COMMUNITIES 🤹🏽♀️
If you’ve hit a writing hump - whether it’s lack of motivation, clarity, or just feeling stuck - you’re not alone. One of the most effective (and often overlooked) solutions is finding a writing community. Surrounding yourself with others who understand the creative process can offer accountability, fresh perspective, and the kind of encouragement that gets you back on track. Whether you're looking for feedback, structure, or simply someone to say “keep going,” the right community can make all the difference.
For the London creatives, if you’re looking for a writer club, Inklings is your place. They host monthly writing club drop-ins, so if you want to lock in and meet fellow writers, check them out. This month’s is already old out so sign up to stay updated for future events!
This is a lovely new writing community based in Cheltenham. If you want to crack on with your latest work in progress, whilst also getting some one to one time with an editor, get booking!
What you should be reading… 📚
It’s READ CARIBBEAN month. I recently answered some questions for The Bookseller’s Black Issue, which is coming up soon, and touched on how underrepresented and ignored Caribbean writers and literature are (and how I believe the publishing is not only anti-Black, but also especially anti-Caribbean). Anyway, I digress…
I am OBSESSED with Caribbean literature. I don’t think there’s any other writers who combine the magic, wonder, nuance, complexity, depth and spirit of the Caribbean as much as our writers. I’m even guest edited an issue of Bad Form, a literary review for people of colour, on Caribbean Literature, so keen am I to spotlight our words and writers. Sadly, Bad Form is no more and all the print issues sold out but you can read my editorial letter for ths guest issue here. If you’re keen to read more, here are three reads that I highly recommend that showcase the wonder and diversity of Caribbean literature.
Maryse Condé - Crossing the Mangrove
A gorgeous novel that explores the interconnected lives of locals following the death of a handsome outsider in a small village in Guadeloupe.
Michael Anthony - The Year in San Fernando
A beautiful novella that follows a 12-year-old boy living in a Trinidadian village, who gets the chance to spend a year in San Fernando as a servant boy, and his coming to terms with being away from his family.
From the legendary Antiguan writer comes this story of an Antiguan man, a taxi driver by the name of Mr Potter, told through the lens of his daughter, who never spoke to him.
That’s all from me, but I’ll be back next month in your inbox, or for you paid subscribers, next week! Until then, pray for me getting through these picture references and getting some well-earned rest 🛌🏽