Author Archives: Leila from Megaphone

The Inclusive Minds Collective are launching a new phase of the “Everybody In” social media campaign, which encourages children’s books to include ALL children. It aims to remind everyone of the need to write, illustrate, publish, sell, buy, borrow and explore diverse and inclusive books. Inclusive Minds’ goals are very much in harmony with Megaphone’s andContinue reading “Get in!”

I thought I’d do a quick update about what’s going on with Megaphone at the moment. Basically, it’s all about getting the word out, so please, do pass the news of this great opportunity on to anyone you know who who could benefit from it. I have just been at the Writers’ Toolkit event –Continue reading “The Writers’ Toolkit, mail shots and more”

A great opportunity for writers of colour here  – courtesy of Sable magazine and The Literary Consultancy. http://www.sablelitmag.org/creative-institute/bespoke-services/free-reads-tlc-partnership/ And 2) thrilled to say that Birmingham has a new publisher, specialising in poetry AND poetry for children! (whoop whoop). The Emma Press is looking for poetry and prose pamphlet proposals. Writers are invited to send in 10Continue reading “A couple of exciting things”

If you’re not already following Megaphone on Twitter, we’re @MegaphoneWrite over there and would love to see you. My own Twitter handle is @LeilaR . The Voice have also just featured the project with a smashing picture of Catherine Johnson, one of the masterclass leaders and author of at least sixteen books, most recently,nominated forContinue reading “We tweet!”

The Carnegie Award is the Man Booker prize of children’s literature, and I’m super excited to hear that two Megaphone writers are on that list – Catherine Johnson for The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo, a wonderful novel about a real historical character who rose like a phoenix out of terrible circumstances and builtContinue reading “Two Megaphone masterclass leaders nominated for the Carnegie award!”

BBC Radio WM this evening: I’ll be on BBC WM (95.6 FM) talking about Megaphone at 6.30 pm this evening – with Arshia Riaz on Midlands Masala. Very excited that I get to feel glam in the Mailbox for half an hour 🙂

(let’s face, it’s just me typing this. I don’t know whether to refer to myself in the third person, or with the royal ‘we’, or what. Also, I’m sorry there are still no pictures on this blog). Anyway, Spread the Word are the writer development agency for London – which is a massive responsibility I shouldContinue reading “Spread the Word publishes interview with Leila Rasheed”

Come one, come all! We take applications until 24th December 2014, and will long-list them all together after that date (so there’s no need to rush to be the first to send yours in). Read through the FAQs Page first of all, and check you have all the information you need. Then go to the HowContinue reading “Megaphone is now open for applications!”

I have a short piece about Megaphone in The Asian Writer, today: http://theasianwriter.co.uk/2015/10/a-new-scheme-hopes-to-promote-bme-voices-in-childrens-literature/

So I just went on Twitter and saw this: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/creative-access-funding-313802?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Creative Access, the charity which brings young Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority people into publishing internships, may lose its funding next year unless a new source is found. I am not a publishing expert, nor am I a charities expert, but I am kind ofContinue reading “We need Creative Access!”