The Reading Corner

13/06/2024

Rebecca Barrow discusses q***r representation in her books, including her most recent release, And Don't Look Back.

To read the full interview, go to our blog.

***rrepresentation

10/06/2024

Rebecca Barrow () about her YA sapphic thriller “And Don’t Look Back”.

After her mother’s death, a teen pieces together the truth of her family’s past and what her mom was hiding from in this thriller that’s perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Tiffany D. Jackson.

In her interview, Barrow talks about her inspirations, q***r representation and why she decided to set this novel in America.

To read the full interview, go to our blog.

07/06/2024

Meet the Social Media Team! ✨️

Find out more about the volunteers working behind the scenes to keep you up to date with everything going on at The Reading Corner 📚

06/06/2024

Jenn McKinlay talks about practising self-care while writing Love At First Book.

To read the full interview, go to our blog.

31/05/2024

The Benefact Group gives all available profits to charity and good causes. Movement for Good is their annual programme of giving. Please nominate us for the £1000 draw by following the link in our bio and filling in your details. We can then use this money to get our Mentorship and Literacy Development Programmes up and running.

27/05/2024

The Reading Corner is looking for blog writers! ✍️

If you love reading, promoting diverse talent and being part of a lovely team, scroll to read about the role, and apply now via our website!

22/05/2024

Donating just got easier (and cheaper)!

Shopping online at a huge variety of shops gives us donations - at no extra cost to you. And it's simple to sign up. Follow the link in our bio or our story. Create your account. Add the widget to your browser. Then you're good to go! Doing your food shopping, topping up your makeup supply, and even booking a holiday can give us donations.

We are a new charity and we are so excited to get our Mentorship and Literacy Development Programmes up and running, but in order to do this, we need funding. This is an easy and free way to help us.

26/04/2024

APRIL NEWSLETTER

This month, the world celebrated World Book and Copyright Day! In honour of this, we’re shining a spotlight on what the day is all about in our April newsletter.

We were also lucky to chat to performance poet, .Poetess, about her work writing custom poems on her vintage typewriter. Make sure to sign up to our mailing list to read all about it!

01/04/2024

.habeck about her debut novel, ‘Shark Heart’, a tale of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis, and letting go.

For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will gradually turn into a great white shark. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist’s heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams.

At first, Wren internally resists her husband’s fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis changes? Then, a glimpse of Lewis’s developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with a college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this bold novel is the story of Wren’s mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents’ crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren’s grief eventually collides, and she is forced to make an impossible choice.

To read the full interview with Emily Habeck, check out our blog!

31/03/2024

MARCH NEWSLETTER
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we chose a selection of books from that celebrate incredible women in history, and our lucky newsletter subscribers will have the pleasure of reading a bit more about these books in detail! If you would like to read any more about the books or their authors, be sure to check out our newsletter this march! You can sign up to our mailing list by scrolling to the bottom of our website!

17/03/2024

Elle Kennedy's Off-Campus novels are up for grabs in our Silent Book Auction!

The New York Times bestselling author has kindly donated a signed set to help support our Literacy and Mentorship programmes here at The Reading Corner.

Join us over on galabid.com/thereadingcorneruk from Tuesday 19th March to bid on this coveted bundle of Kennedy novels, among many other wonderful books from a range of diverse authors.

All successful bids will be won at 11.59pm on Tuesday 26th March, and donations will contribute to fostering diversity and inclusion in the publishing industry.

Find the link to the auction in our bio, or visit www.thereadingcorner.uk to find out more about what we do.

02/02/2024

Exciting news! Our next fundraiser is a silent auction. We are partnering with a range of authors who will be sending signed personalised copies of their books to the highest bidders. This will take place from Monday 19th of February -Tuesday the 26th of February.When the link is released, bidders may visit our online platform, powered by GalaBid, to place their offers. It will be open for the whole week, and the last day to bid will be 26th of February at 11:59pm.

The donations from this fundraiser will go towards our Mentorship Programme. This Programme will help to foster diversity and inclusivity in the publishing industry by giving our mentees one to one guidance for nine months. In 2020, a study showed that BAME writers are not afforded the same industry access, creative freedoms, or economic value as their white counterparts.

Make sure to follow all our socials to stay updated on which books you can bid on!

27/01/2024

Be sure to check out our January newsletter, which comes out Saturday 26th, by signing up from the link in our bio. Inside, you can get an in-depth report of The Reading Corner’s biggest ideas this January! OUR LATEST FUNDRAISER - discover all the details to our new online auction, where authors will be auctioning off signed copies of their latest books to the highest bidder!
OUR RESOLUTIONS - January is often a poignant moment of reflection. Over the Christmas period, we asked TRC team what their resolutions were. Read more about the team’s resolutions, and debate whether they’ve stayed true to them!

HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR FUNDRAISING Find out how you can help us, in more ways than one, to improve literacy access for all ages. To find out more about these exciting announcements, visit our website from the link in our bio.

21/01/2024

Attention Publishers, Literary Agents, and Authors! We are looking for partners to help us shape the future of publishing and cultivate a new generation of diverse and inclusive storytellers with our 2024 Mentorship Programme!

IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE - Facing an industry where only 13% of employees come from BAME backgrounds and a mere 5% represent working-class origins, The Reading Corner’s Mentorship Programme stands as a beacon for change. It’s a strategic, data-backed response to a pressing call for diversity and inclusivity in publishing.

CULTIVATING TALENT- Our mentorship journey is a nine- month programme designed to provide in-depth industry insights and hands-on experience. Through bi-monthly sessions, mentees gain invaluable knowledge and skills, fostering not just entry into publishing but ensuring their lasting success and growth.

CRAFTING CAREERS, NOT JUST JOBS - We aim for profound impact - equipping
diverse individuals with the tools to thrive in publishing, not just to enter it. Our mission extends beyond job placements, fostering lasting career growth and providing a crucial step into the
industry for BAME and the working-class..

For more information on how to get involved, how to apply, or to register your interest, please visit the link below. http://www.thereadingcorner.uk/mentorship-programme for more information.

16/01/2024

Happy Global Word Search Day!

Here at the Reading Corner, we’re on a mission to transform the literacy system while celebrating differences and empowering diverse voices through literacy. Our programmes seek to inspire people through the joy of reading, fostering a love of learning and knowledge.

So, to kick off the new year, we have created a word search with helpful hints about the exciting projects we’re creating in 2024! Which word did you spot first? Let us know!

For more information be sure to visit our website or tap the bell icon on our profile to stay notified!

19/12/2023

Bea Fitzgerald about her debut novel, Girl, Goddess, Queen.

Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods.

The real story is much more interesting.

Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped. There was no way she was going to be married off to some smug god more in love with himself than her.

In her interview with The Reading Corner, Bea discusses her compelling reasons for reimagining Persephone’s story – including exploring what it would look like as a narrative where power was ‘not something she had to be given by a man, but was always hers to find’.

To enjoy the full interview, visit The Reading Corner’s website. The link is in our bio.



[Graphic with a photograph of Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen. The Reading Corner's logo is shown.]

15/12/2023

In her interview with The Reading Corner, Elika Ansari explained why it was important to write The Five Stages of Moria as a fictional, multi-point of view novel rooted in true stories.

There are many ways a person can make a difference in the world in the face of injustice. Fiction can give a voice back to individuals whose stories are too often forgotten.

To read the full interview with Elika, visit our website. The link is in our bio.



[A graphic displaying a quote from Elika Ansari, author of The Five Stages of Moria. The quote reads “The reason I chose to write it as fiction was indeed to give that voice back to the residents, to tell the story from their perspective, how I originally heard it myself rather than telling it from my view point.” The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

11/12/2023

Elika Ansari about her recent release, The Five Stages of Moria.

The voices of Moria Refugee Camp are unified in their grief. Homes, hope, and dignity are lost amongst squalid living conditions and the omnipresent void where the illusion of salvation once lived.

Based on true stories, The Five Stages of Moria, resurrects the largest refugee camp in Europe and allows readers to bear witness to the monolithic trauma held within.

The Reading Corner found this thought-provoking and eye-opening novel an incredible, compelling read. In conversation with Elika, we discovered more about her experiences as an aid worker and the background behind the Five Stages of Moria.

You can read the full interview on The Reading Corner’s website. The link is in our bio.



[Graphic with a photograph of Elika Ansari, author of The Five Stages of Moria. The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

10/12/2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Check out all we've been up to and also sneak a peek into what to expectfrom the new year and the latest photo of

WHAT WE DID IN 2023
Take a stroll with us down memory lane as we recall all of the amazing breakthroughs and
targets we reached this year! Including what was our most read article of the year, how much
funding we raised and how many blogs our incredible volunteers put together!

INDUSTRY EXCLUSIVE
Read the full interview with Ashley Thorpe as he speaks about his experience at fiction production group Storymix and as a signed author! Learn more about how to break into the publishing industry and moreabout the biggest challenges the industry is facing today.

GIFT OF LITERACY
This festive season, join us at The Reading Corner in spreading the magic of literacy. With every
page turned and every story told, we can light up lives and communities. Our Christmas
campaign, 'Gift of Literacy', offers you a unique opportunity to give a gift that extends far beyond
the holiday season. Read more about the different gifts you can give in this month’s newsletter.

Check out our bio for links to sign up for all this news and more!

07/12/2023

When a book captures a difficult experience that resonates with you, it has the potential to offer comfort, company and a sense of acceptance.

In her interview with The Reading Corner, Marielle Thompson spoke about her experience writing a lead character whose mental health condition is neither the “villain” nor an “othering plot twist”.

It’s a powerful thing when stories of diverse experiences are told with the insight and sensitivity of those who have lived them.

That’s just one reason why promoting diversity in the publishing industry is central to The Reading Corner’s mission.

05/12/2023

Happy International Volunteer Day!

Our wonderful volunteers are very special to us here at The Reading Corner. We have over 30 people who give up their time to help our cause, and we couldn't exist without them!

From our writers over at Tales for Diversity and our research gurus, to our EDI and accessibility guides, our Partnerships and Fundraising team, and the folks who deliver our projects on the ground - we've got so many to be thankful for.

Do you know any volunteers you want to rave about?

04/12/2023

Marielle Thompson about her spellbinding gothic romance novel, Where Ivy Dares To Grow.

When Saoirse Read visits her fiancé’s family home, she questions whether it is her mind or her fiancé’s parents that leave her feeling unwelcome. Exploring the estate’s gardens, Saoirse slips back in time to 1818, to the company of her fiancé’s charming ancestor, Theo Page.

Marielle spoke to The Reading Corner about the influence of gothic literature, finding your voice, and embracing vulnerability.

To read the full interview with Marielle, visit our website – the link is in our bio.



[Graphic with a photograph of Marielle Thompson, author of Where Ivy Dares To Grow. The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

30/11/2023

The opportunity to read for pleasure has been shown to have a significant impact on children’s cognitive development.

The Reading Corner’s approach to literacy development is rooted in this understanding.

We believe that every child should have the chance to discover for themselves what kinds of stories most capture their imagination. With our Reading Sessions and Book Bundles, we make sure children are supported in developing a genuine, lifelong love of reading.



[A graphic displaying a quote from Emily Jane, author of On Earth as It Is on Television. The quote reads “I’m an eclectic reader and I enjoy books from almost all genres. The stories I love the most are ones that have science fiction or fantasy or horror elements but are also more grounded in reality. So I guess my favorite type of book to read is also the type I like to write.” The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

27/11/2023

Emily Jane about her debut release, On Earth as It Is on Television – a tale of aliens, humans and the journey towards self-understanding.

Emily’s extraordinary new novel, which has been compared to works by Douglas Adams, Gabrielle Zevin and Becky Chambers, fizzes with both novelty and heartfelt humanity.

To catch the full interview with Emily Jane, take a look at the blog section of our website. The link is in our bio.



[Green graphic with a photograph of Emily Jane, author of On Earth as It Is on Television. The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

23/11/2023

In her interview with The Reading Corner, Thao Thai describes her journey to becoming a published novelist after a break from writing and a number of difficult setbacks.

Thao’s story also shows how, with the support of a publishing team who feel connected to your work, the publishing process can be a wonderful experience.

The publishing industry needs diverse talent to give more brilliant books a place in the world that they deserve. Making that happen is a core part of The Reading Corner’s mission.

If you’re looking to make it into the publishing industry, check out our Mentorship Programmes for diverse creatives on our website (link in our bio).

Your dreams are not too big.



[A graphic displaying a quote from Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon. The quote reads “I could hear many of the bad-faith voices in my head, asking me why this book should be in the world, why I thought I deserved to have a dream like this come true. As writers, we’re often told that our dreams are too big [...]. I took those voices seriously for much too long.” The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

23/11/2023

20/11/2023

Thao Thai about her incredible debut novel, Banyan Moon.

Spanning decades and continents, from 1960s Vietnam to the wild swamplands of the Florida coast, Banyan Moon is a stunning and deeply moving story of mothers and daughters, the things we inherit, and the lives we choose to make out of that inheritance.

In her interview with The Reading Corner, Thao talks about human connection and the diasporic experience, her struggle with imposter syndrome as a writer, and the strength of her female characters.

“I’ve met very few—if any—women that haven’t been full of magnificent resilience, especially in a world that often tries to deny their personhood and autonomy. One of my blessings in life is to be surrounded by women who resist in unexpected ways.”

To enjoy the full interview with Thao, head to our website – the link is in our bio.



[Graphic with a photograph of Thao Thai, author of Banyan Moon. The Reading Corner’s logo is shown.]

08/11/2023

In 2021, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) found that 15% of children’s books published that year featured Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Characters. According to genres, 7% were represented in fiction, 34% portrayed in non-fiction, and 48% of picture books featured a character of colour in 2020.
Notable mentions were ‘You Must be Layla’ by Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Peter Oswald’s ‘Hike’ first published in 2020.

The Reading Corner is dedicated to changing the narrative of literacy development, one book at our time. Our book bundles, available from our website, offer a range of age-appropriate that are diverse, inclusive, and most importantly - fun! We also offer reading sessions with our 9 month programme. These include workshops every month dedicated to supporting children who need extra support with their literacy development.

To find out more, head to our website from the link in our bio.

07/11/2023

📘 LITERACY LOVERS 📘

Right now, we're in the running for a £5000 funding opportunities that could make a huge difference to how we can help change lives. All we need is a little support from our community.

All you need to do is nominate us - it's as simple as that! This small gesture could help us transform the lives of countless children by enriching their lives with diverse literature that educates and inspires.

Please consider nominating The Reading Corner. Your support is a legacy for future generations.

Follow the link in our bio to nominate.

16/10/2023

Adorah Nworah about her debut novel, House Woman.

One day in Lagos, young dancer Ikemefuna is put on a plane to Houston to meet her new husband, Nna. Promises are made to her - about her education, about the man she will marry, about her freedom. She appears obedient, malleable. But she is no ordinary wife.

House Woman is a captivating thriller populated by ‘shamelessly human’ characters navigating life in a patriarchal world.

Check out The Reading Corner’s interview with Adorah via the link in our bio!