With just one week until the winners of the sixth Diverse Book Awards and Readers’ Choice Awards are announced at an invite-only, private event at Waterstones Piccadilly, London (9th October), three incredible pioneers in publishing are today announced as being shortlisted for the prestigious Malorie Blackman Impact Award sponsored by Renaissance:

Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay OBE is a BAFTA nominated International prize winning writer. He was awarded an MBE for services to literature by The Queen of England and an OBE for services to literature by The King of England, The Pen Pinter Prize and a Points of Light Award from The Prime Minister. Lemn has written publications with Canongate, Oberon, Bloomsbury Bloodaxe, and Faber and Faber. And many other writings: plays poetry, articles introductions to publication like The Moth collection to articles for The Guardian. His memoir, My Name Is Why, was published by Canongate in 2019.

Sita Brahmachari
Sita Brahmachari is an award-winning writer of children’s and young adult fiction whose work centres on family, identity, human rights, and underrepresented voices. Born in Derby to Indian and English parents, she has drawn lifelong inspiration from Lake District folklore, Kolkata storytelling traditions, and her background in theatre and community arts. Her debut novel Artichoke Hearts (Macmillan, 2011) won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and was named one of The Guardian’s top 50 diverse books since the 1950s. She has since published numerous acclaimed titles with leading publishers, been recognised internationally with honours such as an IBBY Award for Tender Earth, and worked extensively with schools, refugee communities, and literacy organisations. A Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Society of Authors, Sita continues to combine teaching, residencies, and creative collaborations with a commitment to amplifying diverse stories for young readers.

Yomi Ṣode
Yomi Ṣode is an award-winning Nigerian British writer whose work spans poetry, theatre, music, and mentorship. A recipient of the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship, he has been shortlisted for the Brunel International African Poetry Prize, the T.S. Eliot Prize, and the Rathbones Folio Prize. His acclaimed stage works include the one-man show COAT, the libretto Remnants with Chineke! Orchestra, and the play and breathe… at the Almeida Theatre, which won four Black British Theatre Awards. Yomi’s debut poetry collection Manorism was widely acclaimed and adapted for stage at the Southbank Centre, and his debut novel The Interpreter is forthcoming from Viking. Alongside his writing, he founded BoxedIn, First Five, The Daddy Diaries, and the mentorship programme 12 in 12, continuing to champion creativity, community, and underrepresented voices.

Nominations for the Malorie Blackman Impact Award were received from 100+ members of the public via an online voting form.
The first winner, Malorie Blackman, was announced in 2023. Last year saw Nikesh Shukla take the crown. The 2025 winner will be revealed and honoured with a special trophy at The Diverse Book Awards next week.
The Diverse Book Awards, created by publishing entrepreneurs Abiola Bello (award-winning author) and Helen Lewis (prize-winning publicist), continues to evolve to become ever more inclusive and interactive, and is proudly celebrating its sixth edition.
Abiola Bello, co-founder of The DBAs: “The three people on the shortlist for the 2025 Malorie Blackman Impact Award all deserve their place, the recognition and our gratitude. Each has made, and continues to make, a long-lasting and positive impact in publishing, which will be a legacy to their hard work in years to come.”
Helen Lewis, co-founder of The DBAs: “This was the first award of its kind, to honour the incredible work that Malorie Blackman has done, and continues to do, when it comes to creating must-read diverse book and championing under-represented writers. Now in its third year, the Award is presented to someone who is making a real, heartfelt, genuine impact when it comes to diversity in publishing – just like Malorie. Congratulations to Lemn, Sita and Yomi.”