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PUBLISHING

OWN IT! and Boy Better Know to publish Paperback edition of ENDLESS FORTUNE and partner with Audible for Audiobook

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We are super excited to announce we’ll be releasing Ify Adenuga’s critically acclaimed autobiography Endless Fortune in PAPERBACK on 29th July + have done a deal with Audible for the AUDIOBOOK. Get your pre-orders direct from us for a personalised signed copy.

How do you go from being a penniless student in a foreign country to becoming the mother of “a family who could lay a claim to the title of the most creative clan in Britain?” – The Guardian

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. Born in Lagos, Ify’s life was uprooted by the Nigerian civil war, which ravaged the country in the mid-1960s, forcing her family to flee. In 1980, she headed to London in search of a better life where, a year later, she met her husband Joseph Senior at their workplace – a bingo hall in east London.

In the tough working-class area of Tottenham, the couple raised their four children and encouraged them to explore their artistic instincts, narrowly avoiding a violent situation that threatened to tear the family apart…

Endless Fortune is 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. Ify explores the chasm between Lagos and London and how to not just survive but thrive in a new culture and country.

“Raising one successful creative might be down to chance – to do so four times takes brilliance.” – British Vogue

“A memoir that takes in the ascent of grime, overcoming adversity…and witnessing her offspring reshape culture in their own image” – NME

“This holds a wealth of inspiration, learning and joy. A must read.” – Candice Carty-Williams

“This is a touching, memorable story with a righteous voice at the heart of it” – The Big Issue

The formidably impressive Ifeomagwu “Ify” Adenuga is married to Joseph Senior Adenuga and mother of Joseph Junior (Skepta), Jamie (JME), Julie and Jason Adenuga. Ify went on to receive a BA (Hons) in Education & Film studies and continues to work with organisations across the UK and Nigeria to help young people 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.

NOW AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIOBOOK – HOW TO: Be More Pirate.

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Download your copy from Audible here

The time has come when breaking the rules is the right thing to do.

Faced with chaotic leadership, growing inequality, business disruption and an impending climate crisis, Sam Conniff’s 2018 best seller Be More Pirate was the rallying cry so many needed to hear. Now he has handed over the mic to the thousands of people who have turned the book into a movement.

Enter the real life pirates.

From healthcare to education to big business, mutiny in Manchester to the climate pirates of the Caribbean, How to: Be More Pirate captures their applied wisdom. Packed with relatable examples and practical, applicable tactics, it is a blueprint for causing good trouble.

Whether you want to overcome personal limitations, upend the status quo in your line of work, or find some co-conspirators, this book will help you to be more radical, relentless and ambitious in your life and work.

The only certainty is uncertainty, it’s how we respond that matters, so now is the time for pirates.

Join the movement and reclaim your power, purpose and potential.

#BeMorePirate.

Follow @bemorepirate to keep up to date.

Purchase the paperback copy of How To: Be More Pirate from:

WWW.OWNIT.LONDON/SHOP

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

ANNOUNCMENT: OWN IT! to publish ‘HOW TO: BE MORE PIRATE’ by Sam Conniff and Alex Barker

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Storytelling lifestyle brand OWN IT! has acquired World All Language, Audio, film and TV rights to the follow up book to Be More Pirate (Penguin Random House) written by Sam Conniff who also founded a movement in the same name. The follow up to his bestselling title entitled How To: Be More Pirate is co-written with Alex Barker who joined Sam in January 2019′ 

Sam Conniff is an award-winning social entrepreneur, industry speaker, consultant and author. Alex Barker previously worked as a communications manager in the Fellowship team at the Royal Society of Arts before joining Sam in running and becoming a driving force within the movement.

With his first book Be More Pirate, Or How to Take On the World and Win, Sam Conniff had channelled the visionary wisdom of 18th century pirates to challenge the way modern-day businesses are run. Be More Pirate has since developed into an international community of people who are rewriting the rules to live by according to a new ‘pirate’ code.

Sam Conniff and Alex Barker’s new book traces the community’s evolution over the past year and outlines a vision for change. Rather than a theoretical treatise, the book comprises real peoples’ lives and testimonies: their moments of bravery and revelation, their missteps and mischief. It is a testament to the transformational power of a movement and a practical manifesto for aspiring pirates.

OWN IT! commented

“We’re truly excited to be publishing the follow up to Be More Pirate. It’s a celebration of an eclectic mix of individual and organisations’ stories which show how small actions or shifts in thinking can have a huge positive impact on society and the world. The overarching idea that anyone can make a different and affect change for good, coupled with inspirational stories and practical tips makes this the book that everyone needs in their life.”

Sam Conniff and Alex Barker commented:

“It can be daunting when we look at the scale of the challenges we face; the idea behind the book is to break it down, not theoretically, but based on what others have tried.

From Mercedes to the NHS, to the world’s largest health and safety body, pirates have surfaced in the most unexpected of places. This book explains the different ways you can challenge and change the ways things are done, whoever, and wherever you are”.

Pre-order here

OWN IT! will connect stories and readers at home during their first (online) arts festival

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We are launching a week-long online arts festival between the 8th and 14th of June featuring live readings, discussions, conversation sessions and workshops from authors and artists that we publish and represent.

Among the authors participating are Derek Owusu and Courttia Newland. Owusu whose critically acclaimed book That Reminds Me was the first novel to be published by #MerkyBooks and has been longlisted for the Desmond Elliott prize will be in conversation with literary hallmark Newland whose speculative fiction novel A River Called Time (Canongate) will be published in January 2021 to discuss the evolution of The Black British Novel.

MC Angel (Moments of Significance) will offer a workshop on how to creatively express the significant moments in your life while Ashley Hickson-Lovence will present a live reading and discussion of his debut novel The 392.

Sam Conniff and Alex Barker will deliver a workshop on How to be More Pirate and rewrite the rules in your life while author JJ Bola will reflect on his journey to writing and publishing. Poetry fans will be able to enjoy a session between Sophia Thakur (Somebody Give This Heart a Pen, Walker Books) and pioneer Salena Godden including a first live reading from Godden’s debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death (Canongate) which will be published in January 2021. Football enthusiasts will get to see Stormzy’s co-author Jude Yawson in conversation with Nile Ranger and listen to Kevin George reading from his book Soccology.

Other highlights include BBC Africa journalist Yemisi Adegoke who will launch her new podcast ‘The Art of Storytelling’, a live reading and discussion with playwright Sharmila Chauhan on cross cultural relationships and the Third Space and Kirsty Latoya who will deliver a workshop centred on Art, Poetry & Wellness.

Empowering the viewer to realise their ambitions, Rose Cartwright, author of the critically acclaimed book PURE which was adapted for television and is currently streaming on Netflix, will speak on how to become a writer when you have no financial safety net. In addition, self-starter Reggie Nelson, who went viral as the 23-year-old from Canning Town who knocked on doors in Kensington to make it in finance, will host a session on career development.

A finger on the pulse of our time, singer Jermain Jackman, winner of the BBC talent show The Voice (2014), will be in conversation with fellow political activist and social entrepreneur Mahamad Hashi who is the founder of Brixton Soup Kitchen.

As an antidote to the lockdown blues, comedian Quincy will present ‘Daddy Issues: Face Off’ featuring special guest comedian Slim.

With a broad range of events to choose from, OWN IT’s first online festival will be offering inspiring stories for all readers. Stressing the importance of storytelling in our lives, especially at times like these. The OWN IT! team commented

“We’re very lucky to have an eclectic and inspirational group of storytellers as a part of OWN IT! and we decided that in a time when hope is more important than ever, we wanted to collectively offer something which could bring people together, share practical tips and advice and help people get lost in creativity while hopefully feeling empowered

The one thing that we can always be sure of is that when things are at their worst is when the arts, artists and activism is most important and powerful so we’re very excited to be producing the first OWN IT! arts festival and grateful to all of our authors and artists for making this happen.”

Tune in to Salena Godden’s ‘Roaring 20s’ radio show on Soho Radio on the 6th of June for an OWN IT! special as a taster to the festival. We will also be releasing a playlist of songs from 1982 to celebrate the late photographer Stuart Goodman’s whose beautiful photography book One Saturday in 82 on Broadway Market we published earlier this year.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALL SESSIONS FROM THE OWN IT! ONLINE ARTS FESTIVAL

#OWNITOnlineFest