Hachette UK’s Changing the Story programme was very active with its internal THRIVE network in 2020
EBYAN EGAL
Co-chair, THRIVE (Hachette UK)
JOELYN ROLSTON-ESDELLE
Co-chair, THRIVE (Hachette UK)
Protests around the world to support the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as a number of reports stating that BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) minorities have been particularly hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, have accentuated awareness about the inequalities experienced by people of colour. The THRIVE internal network has seen this reflected in its numbers: the number of members of the network increased by 10% in six months and the informal monthly meetings organised by THRIVE welcomed more people representative of all levels and areas of Hachette UK.
In September 2020, THRIVE launched Grow Your Story, a coaching programme for fiction writers from BAME communities without a literary agent. In the space of 10 days, the network received more than 160 manuscripts from all over the United Kingdom. The programme is supported by literary agency David Higham Associates, arts agency Spread the Word and The Future Bookshelf. The contribution and enthusiasm of Hachette UK’s publishers, as well as that of writers and everyone involved in the project, ensured that Grow Your Story was a success.
As of 2021, THRIVE will organise workshops and mentoring sessions to support the 10 authors selected within the framework of this programme to give them every chance of seeing their works published. While the pandemic and working from home have changed our sense of togetherness, THRIVE has managed to maintain a strong connection with its members: the THRIVEing@Home series on social media, the Grow Your Story programme and events for Black History Month helped to bring to life the spirit of togetherness and the mission of the network.
160 manuscripts from all over the United Kingdom received to take part in the Grow Your Story programme.