Penguin Random House (PRH) has recently announced its sponsorship of the Book Room at the upcoming Black Ballad Weekender, set to take place at Islington’s Business Design Centre on August 23rd to 24th. This partnership with Black Ballad, a media platform for black women, marks a significant milestone as the platform celebrates its 10-year anniversary with its first-ever festival.
The Book Room, co-curated by PRH, will be a hub of literary activity featuring talks and signings from esteemed authors such as Diana Evans, Charmaine Wilkerson, Phoebe Mcintosh, and Kelechi Okafor. Additionally, a panel of Penguin professionals will be on hand to offer guidance and insights to aspiring writers attending the festival.
In addition to the Book Room, PRH will have a stand at the festival where attendees can learn more about the publisher’s social impact programs and explore potential career paths in the publishing industry. The festival’s bookselling partner, Round Table Books, will also be present to host author signings at their stand, further enriching the literary experience for attendees.
Jendella Benson, author and editor in chief for Black Ballad, expressed her excitement for the festival, stating, „We are so excited to bring the spirit of Black Ballad’s book-related editorial to life across two days. The program caters to our audience’s varied and diverse literary interests, and celebrates the contributions that Penguin’s Black women authors and professionals make to the British literary culture.“
Amelia Fairney, Penguin’s general communications director, who co-curated the Book Room events line-up with Jendella, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, „We are thrilled to partner with Black Ballad on this exciting events series in the Weekender’s Book Room. It’s a fantastic chance to showcase Black women’s voices in the world of literature in what we know will be a celebratory and stimulating environment.“
The Black Ballad Weekender will feature over 40 panels, workshops, interviews, and keynotes, showcasing nearly 100 Black women and non-binary individuals, including prominent figures such as Candice Brathwaite, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Dawn Butler, and Dorothy Koomson. Attendees can also look forward to a retail space with Black-owned brands and a Black-owned food court sponsored by Just Eat.
Since its inception in 2014, the Black Ballad platform has been a beacon for Black female and non-binary writers, publishing thousands of articles across various topics and paying these creators nearly £1,000,000 in the process. This commitment to amplifying diverse voices and providing a platform for underrepresented communities is at the core of Black Ballad’s mission.
Tickets for The Black Ballad Weekender are now available for purchase, offering attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in a celebration of Black women’s voices in literature and beyond. Don’t miss out on this unique and empowering event by securing your spot today.