The winner of Stormzy's Merky Books prize asserts that it demonstrates the growing interest in books by queer, black authors.
William Rayfet Hunter, a junior doctor, is the third recipient of the rapper's New Writers' Prize.
One of almost 1,000 submissions to the contest was William's book People Like Us.
"As queer Black people, it's easy to feel like our stories aren't worth telling," says William.
"I am incredibly appreciative that the Merky Books staff recognized the potential in my story. ".
The story of People Like Us, according to William, 29, is about "a boy who falls in love with a family and a world where he doesn't belong - trying to fit into a world of glamour, money, and middle-class success.".
Through the friendship between the unnamed narrator and a girl, it examines race, class, money, drugs, and status.
William tells BBC Newsbeat, "I think that as a queer person, as a person of color, there's so many rules that we feel that we need to follow in order to be lovable or to be loved.".
This book explores what qualities we sacrifice in an effort to conform to what we believe the world wants from us. ".
In order to identify unpublished and underrepresented writers from the UK and the Republic of Ireland between the ages of 16 and 30, Stormzy established the Merky Books prize.
The grime musician, who served on the judging panel, expressed his happiness to "crown Will as the winner.".
I can't wait to read more, he said, describing William as "an extremely talented writer.".
William, a Manchester resident, claims to have been in awe when he learned the news and claims that the victory is crucial "for people like me.".
"In the literary world, there is a lot of talk and a lot of action from people of color and from queer people.
"I believe there is a wealth of black and brown writers, queer writers, and immigrant writers who may not feel the same way I did—that their stories were worth telling, even though there are readers out there—who may not feel the same way about their stories. ".
William now has a contract with publisher Penguin Random House UK, which means he will have the opportunity to tell more stories as a result of winning the prize.
He claims that authors Zadie Smith, Chiamanda Adichie, and Hafsa Zayyan, who wrote We Are All Birds of Uganda and was a previous Merky winner, served as inspiration.
Although they were always exceptional, it seemed like they had to struggle to have their stories told, William says.
However, they always produced works that were true to their personalities and identities, which is why readers genuinely adore them.
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