FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Penguin Random House & We Need Diverse Books Announce the Winners of the 2022 Black Creatives Fund Revisions Workshop
February 23, 2023
BETHESDA, MD — We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) and Penguin Random House are excited to announce the two winners of the second annual cycle of the Revisions Workshop, who will each receive grants of $2,000. The Revisions Workshop is an initiative within WNDB’s Black Creatives Fund (BCF) underwritten by Penguin Random House, which launched in early 2021 to support Black fiction writers.
Since its inception, the BCF has strived to celebrate the accomplishments of its alumnx, from signing with literary agents to landing book deals to gaining admission into MFA programs. Penguin Random House was the inaugural sponsor of the fund in the 2021 calendar year and sponsored the program again in 2022.
A committee of PRH editors selected the two winners, which include:
Kibkabe Araya, Before Everything Goes Up in Flames, Middle Grade and Young Adult Category
Mirta Desir, Saving Jude, Adult Category
Both winners’ manuscripts will be considered for publication at Penguin Random House. The committee of editors included:
Adult: Kate Dresser, Carolyn Williams, Caitlin McKenna, Deanne Katz, and Khari Dawkins
Middle Grade/Young Adult: Kelly Delaney, Ruta Rimas, Casey McIntyre, Matt Phipps, Simone Roberts Payne, Elizabeth Stranahan and Kimberly Meilun
WNDB sincerely thanks the editors for their time and insights that they provided to the Revisions Workshop attendees.
“As always, our editors were blown away by the talent and level of care that went into all of the Revision Workshop manuscripts—it was hard to pick just two winners!” said Claire von Schilling, EVP, Director, Corporate Communications & Social Responsibility, Penguin Random House. “Thanks to our incredible partnership with We Need Diverse Books, the Black Creatives Fund has become a landmark initiative for us as we work to demystify the publishing industry and increase access. We can’t wait to see what these incredible writers go on to accomplish!”
The Revisions Workshop was established to provide manuscript development and programming for twelve Black writers who have completed a draft of a middle grade, young adult, or adult novel. Over a six-month period, participants received training from a faculty of esteemed Black authors, along with the opportunity to build a writing community, connect with publishing professionals, and receive feedback on their works in progress. The workshop was developed and overseen by Breanna J. McDaniel, the Program Manager of the Black Creatives Fund.
“WNDB warmly congratulates Kibkabe and Mirta on winning the second cycle of the Revisions Workshop, along with all of the attendees who worked so hard on their manuscripts,” said Caroline Richmond, Executive Director of WNDB. “As always, we are ever grateful to PRH for their support of this initiative and their commitment to uplifting Black voices.”
Kibkabe Araya’s young adult manuscript, Before Everything Goes Up in Flames, was reviewed by Kimberly Meilun, Assistant Editor at Portfolio.
Mirta Desir’s adult manuscript, Saving Jude,was reviewed by Carolyn Williams, Editor at Doubleday.
WNDB and PRH will continue Black Creative Fund programming in 2023. While the Revisions Workshop will be on hiatus this year, the BCF Mentorship program will open to applications later this spring to picture book, middle grade, and young adult writers. WNDB will pair eight Black writers with published authors, who will provide support and feedback over the course of five months. Throughout 2023, WNDB will also host virtual marketing workshops for traditionally published Black authors who are seeking guidance and ideas on how to promote their work to new audiences. Interested applicants may follow WNDB’s social media or subscribe to their newsletter for updates.
We warmly thank Breanna McDaniel for her hard work and dedication to the Black Creatives Fund since 2021, and we wish her all the best in her new endeavors. We also welcome new program coordinator, Doris Allen, who will help oversee BCF and other programming at WNDB. Doris has worked in publishing for over a decade and is an alumnx of the 2022 Revisions Workshop.
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For media inquiries at WNDB, please reach out to Elissa Petruzzi at info@diversebooks.org
For media inquiries at PRH, please reach out to Maya Livingstone at malivingstone@penguinrandomhouse.com.
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About Penguin Random House: Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 16,000 new titles, and more than 700 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.
About We Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that runs twelve exciting initiatives united under one goal—to combat systemic racism and oppression by creating a world where all children can find themselves on the pages of a book. Established in 2014, WNDB strives to support and amplify diverse literature by mentoring marginalized creators, providing resources to diverse publishing professionals, and donating diverse books to schools and libraries nationwide. Learn more at diversebooks.org.
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