LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — British Grime rapper Stormzy announced that he’s partnering with book publisher Penguin to release a new imprint, #Merky Books.
#Merky Books will focus on new fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, with selections curated by Stormzy. To mark its launch, the imprint will publish a work by Stormzy himself “Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far.”
“I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen,” the rapper and producer wrote in a statement announcing the launch. “Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart cannot wait to hear your stories, your poems, your novels, your sci-fis and then getting them out into the big wide world.”
According to Penguin, the imprint will publish about 2-3 books a year.
“Rise Up” will hit store shelves in November and while the imprint is currently not accepting unsolicited submissions from aspiring writers, they did announce plans preliminary plans to hold an open submission competition for new works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, with the winner receiving a publishing contract next year.