LONDON — Diana Evans, whose novel took the Jhalak Prize for prose on Wednesday, is set to appear at the Southbank Centre on Friday evening as part of the award's celebratory reading series, organisers confirmed. The event, which brings together writers of colour recognised in the prize's prose, children's, and poetry categories, marks the official public launch of this year's winning titles to a wider audience.

Evans, best known for her critically acclaimed fiction exploring Black British identity and domestic life, accepted the prize at a ceremony earlier this week. Her win was greeted warmly by the UK literary community, with independent booksellers reporting a sharp uptick in pre-orders and online inquiries for her winning title in the hours following the announcement.

The Jhalak Prize, established to champion writers of colour in the United Kingdom, has grown steadily in profile since its founding, with this year's shortlist drawing particular praise from curators and reading groups for its range of voices and subject matter. Co-founders Sunny Singh and Media Diversified are expected to participate in Friday's panel discussion alongside Evans and the children's and poetry category winners.

Waterstones and independent bookshops aligned with the prize's outreach programme have been asked to feature the winning and shortlisted titles prominently throughout the weekend, with several London stores hosting their own in-store events to coincide with the Southbank appearance. Prize organisers said the Friday gathering would be followed by a national touring programme extending into the autumn.

For Evans, the recognition adds to a growing body of accolades and cements her position as one of the leading voices in contemporary British fiction. Attendees at the Southbank event are expected to include literary agents, publishers, and students from creative writing programmes across the capital, reflecting the prize's dual role as both a celebration and a platform for emerging talent.