‘I thought it was me alone’: how the Black British book festival has grown

Now in its third year, the event stepped up its ambitions and aims not only to spotlight authors but to change audiencesAs a child, Selina Brown had a Saturday routine: her mother would go shopping and leave her at the library, where she would speed her way through novels by Jacqueline Wilson and RL Stine’s Goosebumps series. Yet, as a Black girl, she rarely saw herself represented in the books on the library’s shelves.Years later, she self-published a children’s book, Nena: The Green Juice. “I did encounter some problems,” she says. “I thought it was me alone. I spoke to other Black authors and realised there was an issue.” That became the seed for the Black British book festival, which is now in its third year. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-10-20 12:55:16 UTC ]

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Sweet Cherry Publishing: Life for Leicester children’s indie after Nibbies Small Press triumph

"We want to be recognised as one of the leading children’s book publishers in the industry: we want not only to be recognised, we want to be respected.” Sanjee de Silva (pictured), the new publisher at Sweet Cherry, recently named Small Press of the Year at the British Book Awards, has big... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-28 22:25:53 UTC ]
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Nibbie winner Buckley on boosting Simon & Schuster’s picture book roster

Jane Buckley, who won the inaugural Designer of the Year prize at the recent British Book Awards, discusses her recent promotion and the art of pairing writers and illustrators together. I speak to Jane Buckley just after what must have been a pretty good couple of days for her. On 13th May, at... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-28 15:18:52 UTC ]
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Her Book Doesn’t Go Easy on Publishing. Publishers Ate It Up.

Zakiya Dalila Harris, a former editorial assistant, is making a splash with “The Other Black Girl,” her debut novel about an African-American woman navigating a nearly all-white workplace. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-05-23 20:21:45 UTC ]
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Bradford Literature Festival returns as hybrid event with Moran, Wilson and Rosen

The Bradford Literature Festival will return from 25th June to 4th July with a mix of live and free online events including appearances from Caitlin Moran, A A Dhand, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Rosen.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-17 06:32:50 UTC ]
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The British Book Awards: 2021 Winners

The British Book Awards' three-hour digital prize program included Nibbie winners' announcements in 28 categories. The post The British Book Awards: 2021 Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-13 22:30:42 UTC ]
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Nibbies 2021: Bookstore, Small Press Regional and Country Winners

Eight retailers and nine small presses now are in the running for the British Book Awards' top winners' list, coming in May. The post Nibbies 2021: Bookstore, Small Press Regional and Country Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-17 11:28:19 UTC ]
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British Book Awards: Bookstore, Small Press Shortlists

All told, more than 90 small presses and independent bookshops are in the running now for the British Book Awards' annual honors. The post British Book Awards: Bookstore, Small Press Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-21 16:10:23 UTC ]
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The great unbowed

This week we reveal the small presses and independent bookshops that make up our regional and country shortlists for this year’s British Book Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-18 13:15:35 UTC ]
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Dedicated category previews for Black authors, LGBTQ+ titles

The Bookseller is to run two new category previews in the second quarter of 2021 as it looks to highlight growing areas of the market and key national celebrations such as Black History Month and Pride. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-09 22:49:33 UTC ]
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British Book Awards Name 2021 Jurors for 28 Prize Categories

The 28-category British Book Awards program has 41 jurors in place for the 2021 cycle, with an awards program on May 13. The post British Book Awards Name 2021 Jurors for 28 Prize Categories appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-01 20:15:39 UTC ]
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Henry, Giedroyc and Rani to judge British Book Awards

Comedian Sir Lenny Henry, television presenter Mel Giedroyc, broadcaster Anita Rani, Labour MP David Lammy and author, broadcaster and podcaster Frankie Bridge will join the judges panel for this year's British Book Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-31 12:08:17 UTC ]
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The only Black girl

I was on page 186 when I knew I was going to finish The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris in one night. The novel is a window into what it is to survive as the only Black girl in a predominantly white space. I found myself laughing and cringing in equal measure so many times whilst... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-23 15:08:08 UTC ]
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How Julia Donaldson conquered the world, one rhyme at a time

She published her first book in her 40s and became the biggest selling author of the past decade in any genre – The Gruffalo alone has sold 13m copies. How did this former busker make it so big?The room where the children’s author Julia Donaldson writes – the heart of her vast picture book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-12-17 06:00:31 UTC ]
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Mariah Carey's essential reading list includes, of course, her own memoir, dahlings

Mariah Carey's list of 'essential 2020 reading' includes a host of books by Black authors, along with the pop diva's own bestselling recent memoir. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-12-01 18:44:49 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury spreads word with industry-exclusive proof for The Other Black Girl

Bloomsbury has launched its marketing and publicity campaign for Zakiya Dalila Harris' publishing-set novel, The Other Black Girl, with a proof going exclusively to industry professionals. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-01 04:30:21 UTC ]
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17 Excellent Short Stories By Black Authors

These short stories by Black authors include some of the best Black short stories published, for middle graders, YA readers, and adults. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-10-16 10:37:00 UTC ]
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What We're Reading - October 2020

Love in Colour by Bolu BabalolaEvery story in this collection of love stories by Bolu Babalola has been adapted from ancient folklore from all around the world. Babalola chooses to centre women in these stories, giving the women unique and passionate perspectives on love. While the original... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2020-10-01 09:59:00 UTC ]
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Angry Robot extends Black Voices Matter open submissions window

Independent publisher Angry Robot Books has extended indefinitely its open submission window for sci-fi and fantasy novels by black authors, following a positive response to the initiative.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-24 03:52:28 UTC ]
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Duckworth to publish new edition of Beyond the Secret Garden

Duckworth Books will publish a new edition of Ann Thwaite's Beyond the Secret Garden—a biography of children's author Frances Hodsgon Burnett—with an introduction by Jacqueline Wilson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-30 20:13:37 UTC ]
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How to promote books by black authors

As a black publicist with more than seven years in culture and entertainment publicity, I have sat in many all-white creative meetings where the genuine answer to making a campaign diverse was to give Stormzy a call (before that it was Tinie Tempah).  If you are serious about diversity and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-24 03:36:15 UTC ]
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