We’re very excited to announce that we have acquired ‘The 392’, an exciting and explosive new novel by Ashley Hickson-Lovence.

Set entirely on a London bus travelling from Hoxton to Highbury and taking place over just 36 minutes, the events of The 392 unfold through a cast of charismatic characters coming from very different worlds, but tied together through a shared suspicion as the threat of terrorism looms. On the 392 are all the familiar faces you might expect to see on any bus ride through inner-city London in the grips of gentrification: delinquent schoolkids, the high-flyers, the weird, the wonderful and the homeless. The 392 is primarily about uncovering the passengers’ hidden stories; agendas and ambitions. Switching between the different perspectives – told using first person – powerfully places the reader in the shoes of each character as they observe and make their way to work, school or court. The 392 is a journey through gentrified London and the experiences and feelings that gentrification creates along the way, but ultimately, it’s the story of people, places and perceptions. The roads are real; the locations mentioned are actual local landmarks and the position of bus stops are based on the real route giving the world of the fictional The 392 a brilliantly authentic feel.

27-year-old Ashley Hickson-Lovence is a former secondary school English teacher who grew up on a Hackney council estate and now resides in Norwich while he completes a Creative and Critical Writing PhD at the University of East Anglia. He is particularly interested in capturing the incessantly changing cultural landscape of urban Britain. Hickson-Lovence is also a poet, football referee and a keen marathon runner.

Crystal Mahey-Morgan says, ‘Ashley is a rare and exciting voice with a dept skill for observation, a natural flair with words and the ability to create authentic worlds and characters. As well as an exciting new literary fiction author, Ashley offers an important contribution to the literary landscape and is the kind of unique talent that will delight readers, and that the industry is so keen to find. We’re hugely excited that Ashley joins our growing list of debut British authors and to be publishing The 392’.

The 392 will be published in April 2019.

Football focuses heavily on physical prowess and talent, but the great players possess something extra: The ability to make good decisions on and off the pitch. To unlock their true potential coaches and players need to go beyond their gifts with the ball at their feet and focus as much on their heart and mind.

Invaluable for the modern footballer and fascinating for anyone intrigued by the incredible connections between the heart, mind and body, Soccology contains lessons far beyond the beautiful game in how to be the best version of ourselves.

Soccology will be published on 6th December. You can pre-order a personalised signed copy from the author here

We’re thrilled to reveal the cover for Kirsty Latoya’s forthcoming art and poetry book entitled Reflections of Me.

Reflections of Me is an art and poetry book by 27-year-old emerging artist Kirsty Latoya, from South London. The book will be made up of four sections – mental health, identity, womanhood and love – and images will be accompanied by original poems from the artist.

Whilst studying in New York, Latoya took the opportunity to take art classes and learn to paint. Using this as a foundation, in December 2014 Latoya taught herself digital art using an iPad and stylus by experimenting with different apps and programs. Not long after, she ditched the stylus, preferring the freedom of drawing on the iPad with her finger which is how Kirsty now creates all her art pieces.

Latoya’s passion to explore mental health through her art comes from her own battles with mental health – having first suffered with depression at the age of 13 – and a desire to help others who suffer with mental health feel less alone and more connected through art.

Latoya has also been very outspoken for the need to de-stigmatise mental health especially amongst Black and Asian communities who are statistically less likely to ask for help when suffering from mental health problems.

Publisher Crystal Mahey-Morgan said: “Kirsty’s ability to convey emotion through her art and affect the viewer in a profound way is truly breath taking. She has a unique ability to express complex ideas through seemingly simple images around universal human emotion. This coupled with her boldness in tackling sometime sensitive issues makes her a truly exciting artist and one to watch. We’re very proud to be able to work with and publish such an important voice and talent.”

Reflections of Me will be launched at a unique event of live hiphop, poetry, art and include a Q&A with the author. Book tickets and pre-order the book here