I love books and believe in supporting authors and excluded voices. I have wholeheartedly supported authors, publishers and also campaigns for inclusive books wherever I can. I love the idea that I can read work I may not have been able to before.

I am delighted to also announce that with the advance of BOY, EVERYWHERE I am working with WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS and providing a grant to a refugee/migrant children’s writer (more information on this coming soon). When I wrote BOY, EVERYWHERE, I wrote it with the intention to support and help refugees and I told myself that whatever advance I got, I’d use it to to benefit others. So when I read that the Walter Grant helped Angie Thomas buy a laptop to write THE HATE YOU GIVE, I wanted to do the same for a refugee or migrant who loves to write, has a story burning within them, but doesn’t have the financial capital to spend time or gain the support to do it. It is difficult to write when you have had to flee to another country and lost everything, but I hope I will be able to help someone who is ready to take that next step to tell their story. If I can help one refugee or migrant to make progress in their writing journey, or even get published with success, my life will be made!

FINANCIAL SUPPORT GIVEN TO CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS AND NAMED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

THE GOOD IMMIGRANT – EDITED BY NIKESH SHUKLA

I was one of the first people to provide my support to this game changing book in which fifteen writers explore what it means to be Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic in Britain today.

THE GOOD JOURNAL 

I donated to support four journals that would publish diverse voices. ‘Showcasing the very best new work from writers & artists of colour including essays, short stories, poems, extracts & illustrations.’

COMMON PEOPLE – EDITED BY KIT DE WAAL

An Anthology of Working Class Writers

CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH – EDITED BY SABEENA AKHTAR

A ground-breaking collection of essays written by British hijabis

SCOOP MAGAZINE

I am an investor in Scoop, an independent printed kids magazine publishing original work from some of the world’s best-known authors & illustrators.

‘Worked with world-renowned authors/illustrators inc. Tom Stoppard, Malorie Blackman, Tom Whipple, Jacqueline Wilson, Caleb Femi, Neil Gaiman, Piers Today, Celia Rees

– Sold in 100+ stockists, inc. the Tate, Daunt Books, Barnes & Noble.

– Worked with leading UK literacy charities inc. CLPE, the National Literacy Trust, Give a Book, Beanstalk, Love Reading.’

KNIGHTS OF PUBLISHER

I gave small support to this brilliant inclusive children’s publisher in its early ages by supporting its Books Made Better campaign.

INCLUSIVE MINDS

I’ve been an ambassador for Inclusive Minds, a unique organisation that provides services and expertise for authors and illustrators, publishing professionals, editors, librarians and teachers who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality and accessibility in children’s literature, for two years. I was honoured when the founders asked me to become a Director in February 2020, and was delighted to accept to continue the great work they do.

IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF BOOKS:

WHEN SHADOWS FALL By SITA BRAHMACHARI also COVER QUOTE

RISE OF THE SHADOW DRAGONS By LIZ FLANAGAN also COVER QUOTE

LYING ABOUT LAST SUMMER  By SUE WALLMAN

SUMMER OF NO REGRETS By KATE MALLINDER

LITTLE WHITE LIES By PHILIPPA EAST 

JARRED DREAMS By CAMILLA CHESTER

EATS By CAMILLA CHESTER

1001 INVENTIONS (FIRST EDITION) – EDITED BY PROFESSOR SALIM AL-HASSANI (2003)