Northern Highlights - Diana Anyakwo
Northern Highlights
Diana Anyakwo
Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three
words?
I am based in Manchester
close to the city centre. There is lots of exciting redevelopment near where I
live at New Islington Wharf and in Ancoats. I would describe it as vibrant,
creative and friendly.
What is special to you about creating children's books, and what is your
favourite thing about it?
Reading was and
still is my number one passion. As a child and teenager books were such an
amazing escape for me, they transported me to another world and made me feel
connected to others in a way I sometimes didn’t feel in the real world. I love
how great books can make you see the world in a different way. I hope to give the same experience to young
people who read my work, that sense of connection, that complete immersion in
another world.
Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on.
My debut novel My
Life As A Chameleon is coming out 4 May, 2023 from Atom Books, Little Brown
UK. It’s a story about a young mixed race girl growing up in Lagos, Nigeria and
Manchester in the UK. It’s about dealing with a parent who has mental health
issues and how that effects the whole family. It’s about not fitting in and
trying to find your place in the world. I hope that anyone who has ever felt on
the edge of things or has had challenges within their family will relate to it.
If you could be transported to anywhere in the North/Scotland right now,
where would it be?
Edinburgh, it’s such
an elegant city with so much going on, so many quirky shops, restaurants, bars and
cafes. I love how you can turn a corner
and discover independent bookshops. It’s a city with so much character, culture
and history, it’s hard not to fall in love with it.
What literary events have you attended or been involved with
recently in the North/Scotland?
I attended an In Conversation event at
Blackwells in Manchester for the launch of Nigerian writer Ayobami Adebayo’s
new novel A Spell of Good Things.
Name your favourite children’s book set in the North/Scotland.
Danielle Jawando’s
And The Stars Were Burning Brightly. This book is set in Wythenshawe which is
one of the many things I loved about it. It’s an emotional read tackling
serious subjects but written in a way that draws you into the story and characters.
What advice would you
give to aspiring authors/illustrators
living in the North and Scotland?
To keep writing, don’t
give up, try to join a writing group as feedback can be very valuable. Get in
contact with published authors as they can give you advice about the industry
or even mentor you.
What would you like
to see from children's publishing in the North and Scotland?
I’d love to see more publishers
moving to the North and Scotland and employing local people as commissioning
editors. I’d also like to see more stories from diverse writers based in the
North.
Who are your
favourite Northern/Scottish children’s writers?
Danielle Jawando, Mellisa
Welliver, Cynthia Murphy
What’s next on your
TBR pile by a Northern/Scottish creative?
Glow up by Liverpool based author Dee Benson.
It’s a lovely story of a teenage girl navigating friendship, a crush and
learning to love herself along the way.
Twitter: @AnyakwoDiana
Instagram: @dianaanyakwo
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