Black Authors on the Rise: Event celebrates talent of African and Caribbean authors

A landmark event is coming to Battersea next month to celebrate the talent of African and Caribbean authors.

Black Authors on the Rise will bring together works of more than 150 black authors of Africa-Caribbean heritage at Caius House in Holman Road, Battersea on October 27.

Throughout the day there will be author talks, where writers will share their journeys and insights, as well as workshops for both adults and children and guests will be able to enjoy a cultural celebration, with African and Caribbean-inspired food, entertainment, and performances.

Trinidadian-British actor Rudolph Walker will be a guest speaker at the event. 

Best known for his roles as Bill Reynolds in Love Thy Neighbour and Constable Frank Gladstone in The Thin Blue Line, Mr Walker was one of the first black actors to be seen regularly on British television.

He will also be signing copies of his new autobiography, ‘Walking With Dignity’, during the event.

Another special guest on the day will be Sarah Kittoe, a 12-year-old from Croydon with four published books to her name. 

Sarah released her latest book, Ama and the Lost Key, at Croydon Library in Katharine Street, South Croydon in April earlier this year.

The schoolgirl raised £800 from the sales which she said will go towards Centrepoint and the Wednesday Club at the West Croydon Methodist Church, both of which support homeless people in Croydon. 

Ama and the Lost Key is based in Ghana. The story follows Ama, a young and adventurous girl, as she unlocks the secrets behind the mysterious key.

Promising unimaginable wealth, the key holds the potential to change Ama’s life forever, but as the book continues, Ama learns valuable lessons about the power of unity in a land of gold.

Funds from Sarah’s three previous books, The Friendship Club, Sarah Kittoe’s Colouring Book and Lindsey and the Blue Fox, totalled £10,000 which she has donated to support the renovation of a library at St. Paul’s Basic School in Tema, Ghana.

Sarah said: “I am a young writer on a mission to inspire other children with my books and interesting stories!  

“My mission is supporting the vulnerable in our society. The money that I raise from my books helps support vulnerable people.

Organised by Conscious Dreams Publishing, Black Authors on the Rise is part of a larger movement to uplift black voices in literature. 

The publishing company was founded by Daniella Blechner nine years ago with a commitment to increasing representation, particularly in children’s books.

Ms Blechner said: “The mission behind the event is clear: every child should be able to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, and every author should have the opportunity to share their unique voice with the world.

“I grew up with no real visual image of myself in mainstream literature. This gives the message that our image, contributions, story and voice does not matter. It’s my mission to change the narrative and reflect diverse voices so that we more accurately and justly reflect our world.”

Conscious Dreams Publishing was shortlisted for the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, with the Independent Publishing Guild this year in recognition of its efforts through school outreach, workshops, and literary events.

Book tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-authors-on-the-rise-a-celebration-of-black-authors-tickets-1004583124167

Pictured top: Daniella Blechner, founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing (Picture: Daniella Blechner)