On Tuesday 20 October 2026, Laura Devine Immigration hosted a Literary Lounge with Marcia Hutchinson MBE to discuss her debut novel, The Mercy Step. It was shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction and won the 2026 Discover Prize at The British Book Awards.

Marcia, who was born into a Windrush-generation Jamaican family in Bradford, shared insights into her journey to Oxford, to law in the City and eventually becoming a full-time writer. She also spoke about the inspiration behind her novel.

A raffle on the evening benefitted Sistah Space, which supports African and Caribbean heritage women affected by domestic and sexual abuse across the UK.