Tickets for the fourth A PLACE AT THE TABLE conference are now on sale! https://www.inclusiveminds.com/ The speakers are Catherine Johnson and Patrice Lawrence who will be marvellous. It is a great day for networking and finding out what is going on.
AND THE STARS WERE BURNING BRIGHTLY lights up the world of books!
I am incredibly excited to be holding the proof copy of And the Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando. Just look at this gorgeous thing! Then go and pre-order it from your bookseller of choice!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stars-Were-Burning-Bpa/dp/1471178773
https://www.waterstones.com/book/and-the-stars-were-burning-brightly/danielle-jawando/9781471178771
And the Stars Were Burning Brightly was written during the Megaphone scheme, so it is an amazing and really special experience to be reading it again two years on and seeing how it has developed during the editorial process. I was not surprised to see that it was the most requested proof on NetGalley, nor to hear that Melvin Burgess has called it ‘an utter page turner from a storming new talent’.
Stars’ subject matter remains – and will remain – extremely important. No teenager or parent in Britain today will be unaware of the potential for social media to get out of hand. Danielle has personal experience of this, which she draws on for this wise, moving YA novel. But the novel is so much more than a documentary. My heart ached for Nathan, on a quest for the truth behind his brother’s death. Beautiful meditations on art and space science mingle with a gritty story of ordinary teenagers trying to find human connections and freedom in a world that wants to dehumanise them.
And The Stars Were Burning Brightly is an extraordinary book and deserves all the praise it is getting (and it’s getting a lot). Published by Simon and Schuster, it comes out in March 2020 . You can follow it on Twitter on #Burnbright @DanielleJawando @SimonKids_UK.
Since Megaphone, Danielle has also written a life of Maya Angelou for the children’s series: Little Guides to Great Lives. Thanks to series such as these, there is now no excuse for parents and teachers to not introduce children to great people of colour in history. The books are out there – go and buy them!
As the recent Book Trust Represents report showed, writers of colour are still under-represented in children’s literature. In 2017, just 1.98% of children’s book creators were British people of colour. For context, the 2011 census indicated that 19.5% of people in England and Wales were from minority ethnic backgrounds. That is a stark contrast, and it’s the very reason that Megaphone was created. So this copy of And The Stars Were Burning Brightly isn’t just a proof copy. It is wonderful and encouraging evidence that writers can make a difference. Well done Danielle!
The Emma Press wants your picture books!
From 14th January 2019, The Emma Press will be accepting picture book proposals for children. Successful proposals will be matched with an illustrator, and authors who illustrate their own work are also welcome to submit. Find out more here: https://theemmapress.com/2018/11/call-for-picture-book-manuscripts/
I’ve known The Emma Press for a while now, as an energetic and exciting Birmingham-based poetry publisher with a strong reputation for bringing translated work to the UK. They are now branching out into picture books, and having seen some of their illustrated books, I am looking forward to some wonderful, high quality publications. Good luck to all who apply!
Survey results: are BAME writers being published in 2018?
Back in June, I posted a survey into how many single-authored children’s books (7-11 age range) by BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) writers were due for release in 2018. I can only apologise for the delay in publishing the results – it has just been a really busy year. Anyway, this is a small sample of 6 respondents and therefore limited conclusions can be drawn (you should wait for the big research by Book Trust and Melanie Ramdarshan Bold!), but I thought people might be interested to see the results anyway.
Key conclusions:
- Small publishers are doing a much better job of publishing BAME authors than medium-to-large publishers.
- 50% of respondents were publishing no BAME authors at all in 2018.
- 7% of forthcoming titles in the 7 – 11 age range are by BAME authors. 13% of the general UK population is of BAME origin. This is a discrepancy of nearly 50%.
Full data (you will need a .pdf viewer. Please let me know in the comments if it isn’t working.):
How many BAME children’s authors are being published in 2018.ods
The survey remains open at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VP5ST3T so if your organisation has not yet completed it, please feel free to do so and I will update as soon as I have enough data.
Apply for Write Now by July 9th
Late to this party, but there’s still time to apply for this excellent opportunity:
“Penguin has launched WriteNow – a programme which aims to find, mentor and publish new writers and illustrators from communities under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves!
WriteNow offers:
- Free workshops in Liverpool, London or Nottingham where budding writers and illustrators can learn more about the publishing process, hear from published authors and literary agents, and receive one-on-one feedback on their work from one of our editors or designers;
- Chance to join our mentoring programme, being matched with a Penguin editor or designer for a year to develop their book or artwork;
- Aimed at people from under-represented communities including Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) writers, LGBTQ writers, writers with disabilities and writers from socio-economically marginalised backgrounds
- Open to illustrators of children’s picture books this year for the first time.
Now entering its third year, WriteNow is already having a tangible impact on our publishing – so far we’ve signed deals with 5 writers from the programme, with many more to come.
To apply, writers and illustrators need to visit www.write-now.live. The deadline for applications is Monday 9 July.”
THE MUSLIMS is the 2018 Little Rebels Award Winner!
I’m reblogging this and linking to a piece I wrote a couple of years back, to underline why I really loved The Muslims by Zainab Mian. It really is a desperately needed and important book: http://theasianwriter.co.uk/2015/10/a-new-scheme-hopes-to-promote-bme-voices-in-childrens-literature/ I would love to see bookshops stocking it widely – I had to order it into Birmingham Waterstones when it should be front and centre in the shop: there is such a big audience for this book in this city!
Zanib Mian collects her prize at the London Radical Bookfair
The Alliance of Radical Booksellers is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Zanib Mian for her book, The Muslims (Sweet Apple Books 2017).
The winning title is a comic-style-illustrated chapter book which explores the life of Londoner, Omar, as he navigates a new school which comes complete with its resident bully. Keen to apply Islamic teachings to the challenges he faces and armed with a fiercely hyperactive imagination, Omar’s journey is a hilarious take on life as a 9-year-old child with a proud Muslim identity in contemporary Britain.
Praising the winning title, judge Patrice Lawrence said, “This is a very funny and very effective challenge to the widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in the news. More children need to get to read this book”. Judge Emily Drabble added, “If…
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Megaphone – making plans!
Happy National Writing day! As good a day as any to let you all know that I AM planning to run Megaphone again. It was so successful and we built such a warm and supportive group, that it seems right to build on that foundation. The current plan (open to your suggestions for change) is to run the Writer Development Scheme once again, offering places to six mentees, and, in addition, to run events around England that support BAME children’s writers at different stages of their writing life. The details are still being firmed up and the grant application is in progress, but I wanted to let you know that things are moving.
Here’s how you can get involved right now:
Last time, Megaphone was supported by some fantastic partners, without whom the programme would simply not have happened. This time, we are continuing to build on these partnerships and to make new ones. Are you a writer, publisher, agent or organisation who would like to be involved in the next phase of Megaphone? There are lots of ways in which this could happen, and I’d be glad to talk through ideas. Please get in touch to let me know of your interest. Email Leila at megaphone.write@gmail.com
Are you a children’s writer of colour who has strong feelings about what is really needed to create, support and sustain meaningful diversity in children’s literature? Are you reading this, shaking your head and thinking “Yes but….” or “What she ought to be doing is…” Please get in touch. Email Leila at megaphone.write@gmail.com . I would love to hear your thoughts. There is a Facebook group for consultation so please let me know if you would like to be added to that too. Or tweet me using the hashtag #MegaphoneWhatWeNeedIs . Or comment below!
Huge thanks to everyone who has supported the scheme so far – you have made the difference.
Leila Rasheed
Lancaster Playwriting Prize open:
An opportunity that may be of interest – NEW deadline: 5th August 2018.)
The Lancaster Playwriting Prize is a new initiative arising out of the cultural partnership between Lancaster University and The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster; it is supported by Lucy Briers, Tamasha Theatre Company and Arts Council England. In this inaugural year, the Prize is focused on BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) playwrights. The aim is not just to discover new voices, but to empower playwrights from culturally diverse backgrounds in general by building skills, confidence and networks.
All longlisted scripts will be read in full. Up to five shortlisted finalists will have their script workshopped with professional actors and directors, and see extracts performed at a public showcase event held at The Dukes, Lancaster.
The winner will receive £1500 and will be invited to become part of the Tamasha Playwrights group for 2018/19, receiving tailored training and mentoring as they develop their careers (http://www.tamasha.org.uk/tamasha-playwrights/). The winner will also receive travel support to attend weekly Tamasha Playwrights workshops in London from October 2018 to July 2019. Two of the other shortlisted writers will receive writer on attachment bursaries at The Dukes of £500 each (with further support to cover travel costs); these postings will entail mentorship opportunities and the chance to observe the development of two shows at the theatre.
- The window for scripts opens on 23rd April 2018. Scripts must be emailed by noon 22nd June 2018.
- The competition is open to any BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) writers who are originally from, resident or work in the North West of England. For the purposes of this prize, the North West consists of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
- Writers must be over 16.
- The play must be an original, unpublished and unproduced piece of work. It cannot have had a professional production anywhere in the world. For the purposes of this prize, development performances (such as rehearsed readings and workshops) do not constitute full productions; amateur productions also do not count as full productions under these criteria.
- Adaptations of existing works of musical theatre, radio, television or other media are not eligible; translations of said works are also excluded.
- Musical theatre scripts are not eligible.
- Scripts must be a minimum of 40 minutes long and all pages must be numbered.
- For more details on how to enter and our criteria, please go to www.lancaster.ac.uk/playwriting or email lancasterplaywriting@lancaster.ac.uk
Want to be a picture book author/illustrator? FREE event at Discover, London.
Calling all aspiring picture book authors or illustrators! Discover has an event coming up called Drawing Stories on Thursday 17th May, which aims to bring professionals from the picture book publishing industry together with those people who are trying to make their way in. All levels and experience welcome and it is completely free.
More details:
Drawing Stories – Join Discover Children’s Story Centre on Thursday 17th May for an evening of illustrator and author workshops ranging from portfolio consultations to discussing the process of writing and insights on publishing. This will be followed by an open format Q & A discussion led by a diverse panel of self-published authors, experienced illustrators, and literary agents with inside knowledge of getting your picture book out there. There will be an opportunity to ask our panelists any questions about getting into the industry. Stay on to enjoy drinks, networking and live performances.
Discover aims to nurture new diverse voices and better reflect our visitors’ backgrounds/experience. We particularly welcome attendance from people currently underrepresented in children’s publishing.
To book: http://www.discover.org.uk/drawing-stories-2/
