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29.
September
2017.
London Waterstones Launches Emily Knight I Am...Awakened - Pics & Story

Press Release - Literary Launch - London - Young Adult Fantasy Fiction
 
'Emily Knight I Am...Awakened' launches in style at Waterstones Islington

 

"A. Bello represents the long-awaited evolution of diversity in the literature world. Creating a character like Emily Knight who provides YA readers of colour their own heroine to look up to! Really excited about this series!"

The British Blacklist

 

"An exciting adventure with a wonderful heroine you can't help but root for."

Katherine Webber, author of Wing Jones

 

"...radical and rebellious yet touching and empowering. A must read!"

Style Biblio

 

"A fun read for children 9+. It's great to read a fantasy novel with multicultural characters."

Fantastic Reads

 

[image]London, United Kingdom, 29thSeptember 2017: Seventy people joined Stoke Newington-based author, Abiola Bello, for the official launch of the second book in the Emily Knight trilogy, written for eight to thirteen year olds. The first floor of Waterstones Islington was packed with the delicious aromas of freshly Caribbean-style snacks, ‘fire ball' chocolate truffles, wine and bubble tea. There was a wonderful party atmosphere as friends, family, journalists and even fans as young as eight came together to celebrate, buy the book and, of course, get it signed! Two 12-year-olds had stayed up all night reading the new book on Tuesday evening as they wanted to tell the author what they thought of it, and their hopes for the next, final instalment, "I didn't want it to end. How could you leave us hanging?".

 

Abiola Bello is a 29-year-old author who wrote the first incarnation of Emily Knight aged just 12. Her passion and talent for writing grew stronger, as did the protagonist of her YA fantasy fiction trilogy, which has been picked up by a UK-based TV and Film Production Agency and is currently at the negotiation stage for a television series.

 

Following rave reviews for the debut novel that was first published in 2012 and reprinted in second edition in June 2017 by Hashtag Press, Emily Knight I Am...Awakened takes the reader on a high-energy mission, as war is about to break out and Emily must face her nemesis once again. There is a battle to recruit supporters to each side - the good versus the evil - but as is always the case with Emily Knight, it's far from straightforward and the real-life element of her story - as a teenage girl going through her own personal battles - is as appealing and gripping as the combat scenes.

 

[image]During the lively Q&A with the audience, Abiola was asked what her biggest challenge had been during her writing career. She answered: "I made a lot of, sometimes quite expensive, mistakes when my first book was published. I didn't know what was the right thing to do. I now know a lot more about what I can and cannot do, what is going to work and what isn't. I wouldn't change a thing though. I don't have any regrets. Because of those challenges, I am now much more aware about the publishing world, and through the creation of The Author School (www.theauthorschool.com)I continue to learn, but also I get to share my mistakes with other authors so they don't have to do them too!".

 

About the Author...

Abiola Bello is a 29-year-old author who was born and raised in London, where she still lives and works. She wrote her first novel at the age of eight - she fought monsters and dragons on a daily basis - and experienced her first taste of ‘being published' after winning a school poetry competition at the age of 12. Seeing her words in print fuelled a passion for writing that remains to this day. A. Bello first began writing the Emily Knight saga shortly afterwards (still only 12 years old!) with the intention of filling the gaping hole in children's fiction for an inspirational, strong, black female, young protagonist. This gap, nearly 18 years later, remains in the publishing world despite continued calls for more BAME background authors and diversity within characters and plotlines.

 

Abiola received rave reviews for her debut book, ‘Emily Knight I Am...', as well as outstanding success with her Emily Knight Warriors pop-up book, which went viral in 2015 when it was gradually released online throughout the month of August. She is the founder of The Lil' Author School and co-founder of The Author School. The Author School was shortlisted for The Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2016. She is regularly called to talk at literary events and within the media, she has appeared in Female First Magazine, The Mirror, BBC1XTRA to name a few.

 

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As well as being a writer, Abiola is a professional dancer and teacher. She has performed for more than a decade in prestigious venues including The Royal Opera House, The Barbican, Sadler's Wells, Hammersmith Apollo, Stratford Theatre Royal. A. Bello has also appeared on The Apprentice, Got To Dance and Street Dance AllStars The Movie.

 

Talking points...

  • The series promotes diversity, strong black females, and shows boys and girls as equal... These are key messages that need to be communicated to children and teenagers - they're obvious - but they're still missing from literature or delivered in a patronising or non-effective manner.

  • Inspiring girls to go against the grain, break boundaries, question who they are ‘destined to be' in the eyes of others, fulfilling their own dreams and goals.

  • A. Bello will be part of the Kingston Kids Literary Festival this December and is the co-founder of The Author School and Lil' Author Skool - she is so much more than ‘just' an author and wants to inspire children and teenagers to live their dream as she is doing.

 

 

Notes to editors...

Abiola Bello is available for interview, editorial commission and comment. Copies of both book one and two in the Emily Knight trilogy can be requested by the press for review, competitions etc. Media contact:helenlewis@literallypr.com. Online press folder (containing press releases, photos etc):http://bit.ly/2vZZhmQ.