Now we have made AFROPEAN by Johny Pitts the winner of the 2020 Jhalak Prize, I just wanted to take a few tweets to celebrate this astonishing shortlist. Because these are all books that deserve your time and attention.

FLECHE by Mary Jean Chan is a beautiful beautiful collection, about love and war and fractured relationships. Every time I re-read it judging, I found new things to admire about it. It requires re-reading.

THE BLACK FLAMINGO by Dean Atta (illus. Anshika Khullar) is a gorgeous illustrated prose novel for teenagers about growing up, coming-of-age, being who you are, the hard journey along the way.

QUEENIE by Candice Carty-Williams is at turns sad and funny, always brimming with life and energy, a searing portrayal of an unforgettable character.

SUNCATCHER by Romesh Gunesekera is a lyrical story about friendship, against the backdrop of war, managing to be political while keeping the boys in sharp focus throughout.

REMEMBERED by Yvonne Battle-Felton is a complex and unforgettable story about motherhood and survival, about slavery and heritage.

I loved all these books. All the books on the longlist. A lot of the books that were submitted. I'm so happy to see a really healthy landscape of writing by British writers of colour. It's a great time. Please do support as many of these as you can.