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Robyn Charteris

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Robyn began her career writing educational theatre for schools, working with various organisations such as: WHO (World Health Organisation) and the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) on numerous awareness campaigns.  In 1992 she wrote the first educational play on AIDS in Southern Africa that toured for six years throughout the region.

Robyn is currently working on a screenplay adaptation of the memoir, “Let It Go”, by Dame Stephanie Shirley CH.
The project is in development with Great Point Media and Damian Jones will produce. Haifaa al-Mansour is attached to direct.

Robyn is also currently writing a children’s series of books with BAFTA nominated & Golden Globe winning actor, Idris Elba. The series centres on Identity and Heritage and has been picked up by Harper Collins who will publish.

For television Robyn has written on numerous live action drama, pre-school and animation programmes for: BBC,  Channel 4, The Jim Henson Company,  Channel 5,  Initial Kids (Endemol), Carlton TV,  Gullane & Hit Entertainment,  Granada,  SABC,  Urban Brew/Disney/ M-Net, and developed and produced a touring stage production for Mattel Toys.

Robyn is co-agented by OWN IT! and TAP

Golden Globe winner Idris Elba signs multi-book deal with HarperCollins

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Photo by Maarten de Boer/Contour by Getty Images

We’re delighted to share that we’ve done an exciting deal for London/ New York: Iconic and multi award-winning actor, musician, filmmaker, and activist Idris Elba and Robyn Charteris who have signed a global multi-book deal with HarperCollins to publish a range of children’s books launching in 2022.

In a major UK/US co-publication deal, world rights were acquired by Ann-Janine Murtagh, Executive Publisher, HCCB UK, and Suzanne Murphy, President and Publisher, HCCB US, from OWN IT! founder and agent Crystal Mahey-Morgan.

Publishing will include picture books and young fiction, featuring a character and world imagined and developed by Idris and his talented writing partner Robyn Charteris, who has written numerous live-action drama, pre-school and animation programmes for BBC, Channel 4, the Jim Henson Company and Endemol as well as educational theatre for schools.

Idris Elba said, “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to bring stories inspired by my daughter to life with my incredible partner Robyn Charteris, and the powerhouse team at HarperCollins.”

Ann-Janine Murtagh said, “Idris Elba is one of the most iconic and multi-talented creatives of his generation and I am delighted that he is joining the HarperCollins Children’s Books list. From the outset, Idris had a very clear vision on the characters and stories he has imagined, and is passionate about creating books that will appeal to all children. Robyn Charteris has a fantastic track record in writing for children, working with some of the biggest producers of children’s entertainment, and I am hugely excited to also welcome her to the world of children’s books. I feel privileged that Idris has entrusted us to bring his stories to life and I cannot wait to share them with children across the globe.”

“Idris Elba is a creative force, who has many wonderful stories to tell,” says Suzanne Murphy. “We are honoured to be working with him and with Robyn Charteris to bring Idris’s rich and imaginative storytelling to the world of children’s books, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the HarperCollins family.”

ENDLESS FORTUNE By Ify Adenuga

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How do you go from being a penniless student in a foreign country to becoming the mother of four of the most successful creatives working in Great Britain today?

Part historical, part political but most of all hugely inspirational, Endless Fortune tells the life story of Ify Adenuga: a fighter, a thinker, a feminist and a parent. Ify is born in Lagos as one of 11 Igbo children before the family uprooted during the punishing civil war. In 1980, she exchanges the war-torn city of Lagos for the strange streets of London. There, Ify has to start a new life as a working-class immigrant and student in an environment far removed from her own in a city brimming with hostility. A year later, she meets her husband, a Yoruba, at a bingo hall in east London where they are both working as illegal immigrants. After the birth of their first son, the couple return to education before setting up their own businesses. In the tough working-class area of Tottenham, they raise their highly creative children and encourage them to explore their artistic instincts, narrowly avoiding a violent situation that threatens to tear the family apart…

As the first book of its kind from the mother of successful British creatives to examine the experience of the African diaspora and the complications around immigration from a personal perspective, ENDLESS FORTUNE is a timely addition to the ongoing conversation around migration politics and immigration in the UK. With Ify Adenuga at the very heart of the story, it explores the chasm between Lagos and London and how to not only survive but thrive in a new culture and country. For those who are fans of the Adenuga family, the book is also a fascinating insight into their childhood and growing up as part of a new generation of young, black, British people whose voices are still rarely heard.

The formidably impressive Ifeomagwu “Ify” Adenuga is married to Joseph Senior Adenuga and mother of Joseph Junior (Skepta), Jamie (JME), Julie and Jason Adenuga. After moving to London from Lagos in 1980, she went on to receive a BA (Hons) in Education & Film studies. Ify has not only raised her own family but continues to work with organisations across the UK and Nigeria to guide and support young people and help them lead independent lives in safe communities. In 2016, she received recognition as an ICON at C. Hub magazine’s prestigious Creativity and Arts Awards which recognises excellence in creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Buy ENDLESS FORTUNE here

ANNOUNCEMENT: OWN IT! to partner with music label Boy Better Know to co-publish ‘ENDLESS FORTUNE’ by Ify Adenuga

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We’re excited to announce a partnership with Boy Better Know (BBK), one of the UK’s most progressive independent record labels founded by brothers and Grime artists Skepta and JME. OWN IT! & BBK will co-publish Endless Fortune – the fascinating memoir of Ifeomagwu “Ify” Adenuga who alongside her husband Joseph Senior Adenuga raised four children who have helped shape contemporary Black British culture, Skepta (Joseph Junior), JME (Jamie), broadcaster and former voice of Apple Music Beats 1 Radio, Julie and producer, graphic designer and illustrator Jason Adenuga.

As the first book of its kind – from the mother of a family of successful British creatives – Endless Fortune examines the experience of the African diaspora and the complications around immigration from a personal perspective. This book is a timely addition to the ongoing conversation around migration and immigration in the UK. With Ify Adenuga at the very heart of the story, it explores the chasm between Lagos and London and how to not only survive but thrive in a new culture and country. For those who are fans of the Adenuga family, the book is also a fascinating insight into their childhood and growing up as part of a new generation of young, Black, British people whose voices are still rarely heard.

OWN IT! commented: Ify is an inspirational woman with an exceptional story that everyone needs to read. A story not just of struggle and survival but also of an uncompromising spirit and a defiance in always being proud of who she is and where she’s from whilst forging ahead no matter what – qualities that are clear to see in her children Skepta, JME, Julie and Jason Adenuga. We couldn’t be more proud to be partnering with one of the most pioneering and influential British record labels in Boy Better Know – who true to their mum’s spirit have consistently pushed boundaries and redefined the rules – to bring this vital story to the world.

Learn more about ENDLESS FORTUNE here

Buy ENDLESS FORTUNE here

Ify Adenuga

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The formidably impressive Ifeomagwu “Ify” Adenuga is married to Joseph Senior Adenuga and mother of Joseph Junior (Skepta), Jamie (JME), Julie and Jason Adenuga. After moving to London from Lagos in 1980, she went on to receive a BA (Hons) in Education & Film studies. Ify has not only raised her own family but continues to work with organisations across the UK and Nigeria to guide and support young people and help

them lead independent lives in safe communities. In 2016, she received recognition as an ICON at C. Hub magazine’s prestigious Creativity and Arts Awards which recognises excellence in creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Ify’s debut book ENDLESS FORTUNE is a co-publication between OWN IT! and Boy Better Know (BBK).

Read more about ENDLESS FORTUNE here

Purchase ENDLESS FORTUNE here