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  • Black Books in Your Local Bookshop this March

    by Shade Lapite

    I love going into Waterstones and just having a root around their shelves to see which black writers they have in store. Some days I’ll discover a new author, other days I get to rejoice over a familiar book that’s been reissued with a new jacket design.  It’s been quite a few a while since my last visit to my favourite Waterstones in Piccadilly...

    March 16, 2018
    Comments 2
    Fantasy, Features
  • 8 Online Bookish Spaces I Love

    by Shade Lapite

    Searching out new books from black authors – the raison d’être of this little blog – often feels like combing through the stars for alien contact. No, really. Stay with me. If you’ve seen the 1997 sci-fi film, Contact, you’ll remember Jodie Foster lying on the hood of her car, parked in the middle of a field of giant telescopes, her headphones on, eyes...

    February 23, 2018
    Comments 0
    Features
  • 5 Black Publishers You Should Be Supporting

    by Shade Lapite

    When Margaret Busby launched her publishing company in 1967, she was the youngest and first black woman to do so in England. Decades later, when she was asked why she’d fought so hard to launch an indie publishing house, she said: “So that you don’t only get one perspective all the time, with everything filtered through the usual gatekeepers— we know who they are,...

    July 14, 2016
    Comments 22
    Features

Latest Highlights

April 20, 2018

How Racism in ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ mirrors life in the UK

I was in primary school when I first read Mildred D Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Cassie...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
March 16, 2018

Black Books in Your Local Bookshop this March

I love going into Waterstones and just having a root around their shelves to see which black writers they...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 2
February 23, 2018

8 Online Bookish Spaces I Love

Searching out new books from black authors – the raison d’être of this little blog – often feels like...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 0
November 29, 2017

Purple Mangoes by Louisa Ibhaze: An anthology with plenty to say about the modern...

Purple Mangoes is a collection of 10 stories that explore womanhood in West Africa. The voices vary from story...

by Shade Lapite
Comments 2

Interviews

Q&A with Christina C. Jones

Published by Shade Lapite

I first heard of Christina C. Jones when she wrote a guest post for Quanie Miller’s blog on Five Ways To Build Your Author Platform. I nodded agreeably to...

February 5, 2015
Comments 9
Features, Interviews

Q&A with Havana Adams

Published by Shade Lapite

When I was a kid I would use a torch to read under my quilt long after ‘lights out’. Some books were just too good to leave unfinished. Reading...

January 29, 2015
Comments 0
Features, Interviews

Nicole Amarteifio talks sex and African cities

Published by Shade Lapite

Since it launched in March 2014, the web series An African City has attracted thousands of online viewers and scored a ton of critical acclaim for its bold approach...

June 24, 2014
Comment 1
Features, Interviews

Chibundu Onuzo talks love in The Spider King’s Daughter

Published by Shade Lapite

“She doesn’t treat anyone like an equal. That’s the way she’s been brought up. She’s like her father; but she still manages to have moments of kindness.” Chibundu Onuzo...

June 5, 2012
Comments 0
Features, Interviews, Literature
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There are a lot of beautiful people in the world, and they need to get counted. They need to be the heroes in stories, as well.

Nicola Yoon

Reviews

Video Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi

by Shade Lapite

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon Funny and charming coming-of-age story with a wonderfully sharp and determined heroine.

September 24, 2017
Comments 0
Features, Reviews

Video Book Review: Allegedly

by Shade Lapite

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson Things you need to know: Nothing is what it seems Nothing is what it seems Nothing is what it seems  

September 14, 2017
Comments 0
Features, Reviews

Video Book Review: The Wrath and the Dawn

by Shade Lapite

  The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh In short: It’s so lush and delicious it practically slides off the page.

September 6, 2017
Comments 3
Features, Reviews

Video Book Review: The Mother

by Shade Lapite

My thoughts on The Mother by Yvvette Edwards.

November 30, 2016
Comments 0
Features, Reviews

Video Book Review: The Perfect Find

by Shade Lapite

What are you reading next? Here are my thoughts on The Perfect Find by Tia Williams.

September 8, 2016
Comments 2
Features, Reviews, Romance

When The New Mrs Collins moves to town terror follows

by Shade Lapite

Leena has been looking forward to marrying the father of her child since he proposed on bended knee during a vacation in Myrtle Beach. Now the big day has arrived, Leena looks beautiful in her wedding dress, the church is packed with her loved ones, and happily-ever-after is barely a few “I dos” away. Except Leena’s fiancé never makes it to the church. It...

November 10, 2014
Comments 3
Features, Mystery, Reviews

Helping you read in colour

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AKILAH GREEN

Life is Once

Rant-y African't...

PATRICK LOVELY BRAIN

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YORUBA GIRL DANCING

"Be the Bim you wish to see in the world" - some dude

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