The Resonanzen Literature Festival in Recklinghausen in May 2022 was the first festival dedicated to Black writing in German that took place in a mainstream or white institution. It was hosted by Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen and curated by the novelist and activist Sharon Dodua Otoo, who published her first German novel […] Read more
I had the great pleasure of attending this year’s Birmingham Literature Festival. After a ‘pandemic break’ (that also gave us their fabulous “Birmingham Lit Fest Presents…” podcast) and a one-day festival version last year, the 2022 edition of #BLF took place at the Birmingham REP (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), bang in […] Read more
InterKontinental started off as a literary agency and organized the first African Book Festival in Berlin in 2018. Since then, they have also opened a bookshop that specialises in African literatures and literature from the African diaspora. In 2022, the multitalented team launches their new independent press: InterKontinental Publishing House […] Read more
Gesa Stedman looks at recent and not quite so recent prize winners, Frankfurt book fair debates, special issues on disability and LGTBQI+ respectively, published by The Bookseller, and wonders where climate change has disappeared to – again. Read more
Please join us for an online reading with the Manchester-based writer Okechukwu Nzelu! Monday, 29 November 2021 17h Berlin time, 4pm UK time on zoom (registration details below) His debut novel, The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney (Dialogue Books), won a Betty Trask Award. It was also shortlisted for the […] Read more
Black History Walks have been offering walking tours, educational talks and films in London for over 14 years. Starting on Friday, 16 April, they are bringing the history of Black British Bookshops to our screens. Thanks to Words of Colour for sharing the event information with me! Participation is free, […] Read more
Frankfurt Book Fair created a “Special Edition” in 2020 and went completely online, allowing me (during the last few weeks of my pregnancy) to participate in a panel called “Improving Diversity in Publishing: Who Can Lead the Change Process?” with the following speakers, chaired by Dr Anamik Saha, Senior Lecturer […] Read more
This year’s Birmingham Literature Festival is already in full swing – and an amazing example how you can turn a challenge into an opportunity! For this ‘special’ year, Festival Director Shantel Edwards and Guest Curator Kit de Waal have put together a digital edition of one of my favourite literature […] Read more
Happy Publication Day! Today, V&Q Books officially launches its first book: Paula by Sandra Hoffmann, translated by Katy Derbyshire – the first in a hopefully long series of English translations of German books (www.vq-books.eu). The launch will be held at ocelot, not just another bookstore. It’s invitation only, but you […] Read more
