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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.”

Scholastic partners with Black Cultural Archives to celebrate Windrush generation

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THE PLACE FOR ME: STORIES OF THE WINDRUSH GENERATION

The anthology will include contributions from OWN IT! family: Kevin George, Salena Godden, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Jermain Jackman, Kirsty Latoya and Quincy The Comedian.

Read the full article here

KEVIN GEORGE

Kevin George is a Clinical Consultant, professionally trained in Person-Centred Therapy (Counselling). Specialising in group programmes, to develop emotional literacy. These programs have been delivered in schools, prisons and Premier League football clubs nationally. 

Kevin is the Author of the Amazon number one best selling book Soccology. A book about the psycho-emotional elements of football. Featuring 45 professional footballers from around the world and across generations, along with a Psychophysicist and a Senior Partner from KPMG. He has also written for international publications such as the British Council, Sky Sports and GQ, on all things mental health.

SALENA GODDEN

Salena Godden is a high-profile poet. She is also an activist, broadcaster, essayist and memoirist whose work has been widely anthologised. The Royal Society of Literature made her a fellow FRSL in November 2020. 

Canongate published Salena’s debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death in 2021. A BBC documentary following the early work-in-progress was broadcast on Radio 4 and BBC World Service in 2018. It’s described by the publisher as “intoxicating and life-affirming” and in The Bookseller as “an original, exuberant novel, freewheeling from prose to poetry to non-fiction, truly one of a kind.”

ASHLEY HICKSON-LOVENCE

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.

He is also the author of debut novel The 392, set entirely on a London bus travelling from Hoxton to Highbury and taking place over just 36 minutes.

JERMAIN JACKMAN

Jermain Jackman, born and raised in Hackney, East London, combines his musical talent with pursuing his role as a political activist. Jackman first caught the nation’s attention after winning BBC talent show The Voice in 2014.

Jermain is now actively using his voice to make political interventions which seek to create a fairer future for the children and young people in Hackney and beyond. Through his work as the Chair of the Young Futures Commission and advising capacity with the National Citizens Service, Jermain is raising awareness of how the youth of London are feeling disenfranchised and left without opportunities.

KIRSTY LATOYA

Kirsty Latoya, also known as KirzArt is a South London illustrator who specialises in mental health art. Having always drawn as a child Kirsty taught herself digital art 2 years ago and this is now her chosen medium. She uses her iPad to create art and uniquely uses her finger as a stylus. She draws on her own experiences with depression and anxiety to produce eye-catching digital paintings portraying her representation of mental health. Kirsty’s art has been recognised on reported on by the BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Huffington Post and Buzzfeed to name a few. Kirsty is driven by her passion and inspired by the unconventional beauty in the world.

Kirsty Latoya has published a book of art and poetry entitled Reflections of Me – made up of four sections – mental health, identity, womanhood and love – and images are accompanied by original poems from Kirsty.

QUINCY THE COMEDIAN

Award-winning Comedian Quincy, also known as the Cockney Prince, is a stand-up comic and radio talk show host. A regular on the British stand up circuit since 2005, Quincy has performed all over the world, including New York, Singapore, Dubai, India and Europe. He has supported the likes of an early Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and other top comics from the USA.

In 2010 Quincy set up Quincy’s Comedy Lounge, enabling him to share his love of comedy by showcasing up and coming comedians from the mainstream and the black comedy scene. Catch him every Friday on Youtube/STOMPING PICTURES socials for EXTRA TIME FRIDAY.

OWN IT! Interviews: Courttia Newland speaks about his new Novel ‘A RIVER CALLED TIME’, with Jude Yawson.

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OWN IT! Interviews: Join Jude Yawson – Author of Stomzy’s Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far – for this absorbing and fascinating interview with the talented Courttia Newland, author of 7 books including his much-lauded debut THE SCHOLAR, to discuss his upcoming Sci-Fi Novel A RIVER CALLED TIME.

An inspirational and empowering conversation any writer should listen to.

. —————— A RIVER CALLED TIME – OUT 7 JANUARY 2021 ——————

Set in an alternate world where slavery and colonialism never happened, Newland’s staggering novel is both a timely exploration of social inequality and a story about love, loyalty and the search for the truth.

The Ark was built to save the lives of the many, but rapidly became a refuge for the elite, the entrance closed without warning. Years after the Ark was cut off from the world, a chance of survival within its confines is granted to a select few who can prove their worth.

Among their number is Markriss Denny, whose path to future excellence is marred only by a closely guarded secret: without warning, his spirit leaves his body, allowing him to see and experience a world far beyond his physical limitations.

Once inside the Ark, Denny learns of another with the same power, whose existence could spell catastrophe for humanity. He is forced into a desperate race to understand his abilities, and in doing so uncovers the truth about the Ark, himself and the people he thought he once knew.

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW HERE

Courttia Newland is the author of seven books including his debut, The Scholar. His latest novel, The Gospel According to Cane, was published in 2013. He co-edited The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain, and his short stories have featured in various anthologies and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. He was shortlisted for the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library Award and the 2010 Alfred Fagon Award. In 2016 he was also awarded the Tayner Barbers Award for science fiction writing and the Roland Rees Busary for playwriting. As a screenwriter, he has co-written episodes of Steve McQueen’s 2020 BBC series Small Axe (See more here).

Jude Yawson is a multifaceted writer of essays, articles, poetry and Film Reviews. In 2018 Jude became an author, co-writing and editing Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far with Stormzy and the Merky team. Jude curates his eclectic writing through his website turned Blog House Of Horous, where his entire personal writing journey is hosted.

He has also contributed an essay entitled “Existing as a Black person living in Britain” to SAFE : On Black British Men Reclaiming Space. An anthology edited by Derek Owusu.

Check out more on Jude here + his website here.