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27.
July
2020.
News: Diverse imprint, Hashtag BLAK, smashes target & signs 3 authors

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Press Release - 27thJuly 2020

 

New diverse & inclusive imprint Hashtag BLAK smashes its target to sign not two but three authors

One year after opening for submissions 2021 titles are confirmed

 

Press Release, London, United Kingdom, 27thJuly 2020: Back in July 2019, The People'sBookPrize ‘Publisher of 2020' Hashtag Press Ltd (www.hashtagpress.co.uk) committed to signing two Black British writers to its new imprint for under-represented voices, Hashtag BLAK. A year later, that mission has been achieved with the announcement today of the signing of three incredibly talented writers.

 

The vision for this new, traditional imprint is to make publishing fair, inclusive, representative and equal. To provide incredible opportunities to talented, under-represented writers. A mission that resonated with many including funding from The Arts Council's National Lottery Project Grants and support from Spread the Word.

 

Keeping the submissions process easy to access and open to everyone - regardless of whether they've already been published or have a literary agent - the team has been looking across the country for their first stellar authors for a full year. Hosting open days in London pre-pandemic, talking at conferences and panels, and then moving their search 100% online in recent months, Abiola Bello, Helen Lewis and Luisa María Negret - the Hashtag BLAK team - wanted to prove not only that it is possible to find incredibly talented Black British writers in this country, but that it's also imperative that change happens from the inside of the publishing industry... and not just by small, independent publishers.

 

Hashtag BLAK is proud to have signed two Black British writers - Annabelle Steele and Nuzo Onoh, and one British Asian writer - Attiya Khan.

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Being Amani by Annabelle Steele, £8.99, YA Fiction, March 2021 (World Book Day)

It's been over a year since that night and for Amani, the details are becoming a blur. All she knows for sure is she doesn't want to end up like her parents. So, when she moves to a new city, she has to start all over again. Amani wants to focus on her new life, but when a face from the past comes back, she has to remember everything she has tried to forget!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Annabelle Steele is a primary school teacher in Manchester. She's been writing poetry and YA and children's fiction since her own primary school days. Her books explore mental health, relationships and the realities of being part of a minority group living in the UK. Her writing includes Black protagonists and she recognises that there are still not enough positive Black characters in bookshops for children and teens to relate to. She's passionate about supporting those struggling with mental health and in 2017 published an adult colouring book called Positivity Ink with all proceeds going to MIND.

@BeingASteele

 

A person smiling for the cameraDescription automatically generatedTen Steps To Us by Attiya Khan, £8.99, YA Fiction, April 2021

What if you met the boy of your dreams but loving him was forbidden?

Aisha Rashid is used to being invisible or bullied and overshadowed by best friend Isabelle. So no one is more surprised than her when Darren Brady, the hot new boy in school, takes an interest in her and not Isabelle. But Aisha is a devout hijab-wearing Muslim and Darren is off limits. Does she follow her heart even if it means losing her own identity? And is Darren really all that he seems? If only there was a way she could keep the boy and her faith. Maybe there is a way? All it takes are ten steps...

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Attiya Khan is a mother of three and works as a GP in East London. She has been part of critique groups for around 5 years and holds an MA in Modern Literature from Birckbeck, from where she graduated with merits. She was recently selected to be part of the David Highams Open day for underrepresented writers, and is also on the longlist for Undiscovered Voices 2020.

Twitter: @AttiyaKhan39

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A Dance For The Dead by Nuzo Onoh £8.99, African Fantasy, May 2021

On a moon-lit night, Diké, heir to the Kingdom and leader of the terrifying warrior cult, the Ogwumii, finds himself trapped within the secret shrine of the village deity, a dark cave forbidden to all save the powerful witchdoctors. Overnight, the mighty warrior-prince becomes an Osu - an untouchable and outcast. Can Diké find the traitors who orchestrated his downfall and return back to glory?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dubbed the 'African Stephen King' and the 'Queen of African Horror,' Nuzo brings a fresh voice to the genre, weaving together folklore, culture, and terror to provide something out of the ordinary—for even the most hardened horror fans. Her stories highlight the hauntingly beautiful but dying culture of the African continent, while exposing the dark evils lurking below the alluring and exotic landscape.

@NuzoOnoh -www.nuzoonoh.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Hashtag BLAK co-founders, Helen Lewis and Abiola Bello, are available for media comment, interviews and editorial commissions.

Online media folder:https://bit.ly/HashtagBLAK_PR

For more information about Hashtag Press and Hashtag BLAK please contactinfo@literallypr.com.

 

Contact:info@hashtagblak.co.uk

Website:https://www.hashtagblak.co.uk

Twitter:https://twitter.com/Hashtag_Blak

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hashtag_blak/