PRH & We Need Diverse Books Announce 2025 Black Creatives Fund Revisions Workshop Winners
Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) have announced the winners of the fourth cycle of the Revisions Workshop, part of WNDB’s Black Creatives Fund. Launched in 2021, the fund supports Black fiction writers, with PRH serving as the inaugural sponsor and continuing support in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
The Revisions Workshop offers Black writers who have completed a draft novel a six-month experience that includes mentorship from established Black authors, manuscript development support, and opportunities to connect with publishing professionals and peers.
This year’s winners, selected by a committee of Penguin Random House editors, are:
A SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE by Terene Neptune (Adult), mentored by Jayne Allen and reviewed by Johanna Zwirner
WHEN IVY’S FLAMES FADE by Latoya M. Teague (Young Adult/Middle Grade), mentored by Caswell “Cas” Hyman and reviewed by Zareen Jaffery
We congratulate the winners of the 2025 Revisions Workshop, and we look forward to following their careers. Both manuscripts will be considered for publication at Penguin Random House.
Penguin Random House editors once again played an active role in the program, providing manuscript feedback and helping to select the winners. The editorial committee spanned both Adult and Children’s divisions, reflecting a broad cross-company commitment to nurturing emerging talent.
Middle Grade/Young Adult Editors:
- Zareen Jaffery, Executive Editor /Kokila/Penguin Young Readers
- Olivia Luchini, Associate Editor / Penguin Workshop/Penguin Young Readers
- Sydnee Monday, Editor / Kokila/Penguin Young Readers
- Andrea Posner-Sanchez, Editorial Director / Random House Children’s Books
- Bria Ragin, Senior Editor / Random House Children’s Books
- Lauren Stewart, Assistant Editor / Random House Children’s Books
Adult Editors:
- Mathew Benjamin, Editorial Director / Harmony Books/ Random House
- Shannon Criss, Senior Editor / Crown
- Camryn Johnson, Assistant Editor / Storehouse Voices/ Crown
- Maya Millett, Senior Editor / Dial Press/ Random House
- Shauna Summers, VP Editorial Director / Dell/ Random House
- Johanna Zwirner, Assistant Editor / Doubleday/Knopf
We warmly thank the editors for the valuable time and insights they provided to the Revisions Workshop attendees.
Penguin Random House is proud to continue its partnership with We Need Diverse Books and to support the Black Creatives Fund as it nurtures and elevates the next generation of Black storytellers.
The program has already helped launch notable voices, including:
- Lucius A. Jackson III (2024 winner), whose THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GATES is forthcoming from Storehouse Voices
- Ashton Lattimore, author of ALL WE WERE PROMISED published by Ballantine Books
- Hayley Dennings, New York Times bestselling author of THIS RAVENOUS FATE and its sequel OUR VICIOUS DESCENT published by Sourcebooks
To learn more about the Black Creatives Fund, visit We Need Diverse Books’ website here.