I am honoured overwhelmed and way beyond excited to be long listed for the Women's Prize for fiction 2026.
It's like my birthday and christmas rolled into one and then some, and if you've read The Mercy Step you'll know how important that is.
#womensprizeforfiction
#TheMercyStep
#DebutFiction
My debut novel 'The Mercy Step', was inspired by my early childhood in Bradford
Out 22.07.25
Available for pre-orders now.
#readingtime
#fiction
#debutfiction
#BlackAuthors
#Blackbooks
#supportblackauthors
#northernbooks
#whatimreading
#literaryfiction
#tearjerkerbooks
#bhm
To my Nibbie to the gym today to watch me teach Zumba. My ladies, as ever are lovely and so supportive!
#themercystep #booktour #booksellerdiscoveraward
my weekly walk and read ⛅️🎧
This week I’ve been continuing with my reading of the @womensprize shortlist and I can’t recommend the audiobook of The Mercy Step by @marxia1 highly enough!
It’s so thought-provoking and sharp that I found it uncomfortable at times to be in little Mercy’s shoes. It’s a powerful story that is portrayed beautifully by the author’s narration - one of the best narrations out there IMO!
The Mercy Step *may* have overtaken The Correspondent as my frontrunner for the prize! 🏆 📖
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Synopsis:
Bradford, December 1962.
A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her father’s quick temper.
Left to herself, Mercy finds solace in books, her imagination, and the quiet comfort of her faithful toy, Dolly. But escapism has its limits, and as the grip of family, faith and fear threatens to close in, Mercy learns she must act if she wants a different future; one where she is seen, heard, and her family set free.
The Mercy Step is a sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl’s quiet rebellion, and her refusal to be broken.
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#audiobook #womensprize #womensprizeshortlist #womensprizeforfiction #bookawards
Join us for an evening with award-winning writer, Marcia Hutchinson, whose book The Mercy Step won this years Bookseller Discover Award and has also been shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction.
🗓Thursday 4 June, 7pm
📍Leicester Central Library
Hosted by Merisha Stevenson.
🎟Tickets:
£3 library members
£5 non-library members
Call into the library or book online: /3zwnbbuu
#ThirdTuesday #Author #GoAllIn2026 #NationalYearOfReading2026
@marxia1@go_all_in_2026@literacy_trust
A brilliant, magical evening at the Owl last night with Marcia Hutchinson ( @marxia1 ) and Lisa Smith ( @lisa4884smith ) #TheMercyStep has been shortlisted for the Women’s Prize ( @womensprize ) Fascinating and moving to hear about Marcia’s writing process (a walk in the park with the dog takes on a whole new dimension) and the origins of this novel which are very close to the author’s own history. Please do read this book, it is an important and inspiring work.
Thanks to @lisa4884smith for asking all the right questions and we look forward to the paperback edition of #JamaicaRoad which comes out in June.
Such a laid neck evening at the Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town tonight. I even met a woman called Marcia who is exactly the same age as me - and had a similar 'learning to swim experience' as Mercy. - Uncanny.
Thank you again to Lisa Smith for being in conversation with me. And great to see Pam Williams!
#themercystep #womensprizeforfiction #NibbiesDiscoverAward #debutnovel #booktour
Thanks to Tim Odell and the brilliant team at Brixton Library. My first outing as a niby winner. Lisa Smith did me proud with her interview questions. Thanks so much to fellow writers @mel_pennant and @ammanbrar for showing up to support me.
Tim O'Dell: "We've had lots of Award winners at Brixton Library but you're the first one who's brought the actual award with you."
Me: "I'm not leaving home without it!"
#themercystep #womensprizeforfiction #BooksellerDiscoveryAward #debutnovel
A moment, a speech! We’re still basking in Marcia Hutchinson (@marxia1 ) winning the Discover Award at the British Book Awards (@thebritishbookawards )last night presented by Matt Cain (@mattcainwriter )✨
If you haven’t read The Mercy Step, consider this your sign!
You wouldn't believe this is the first time we've met. Feels like I've know this wonderful woman for ages. Congratulations Roisin - a privilege to share a stage with you!
And no, we didn't coordinate outfits 😎
#TheMercyStep #Nibbies #womensprizeforfiction
