In Conversation With: Anu Adebogun, author of Black and Brave History: 30 Sheroes Who Shook Britain
Give yourself the gift of a full first draft. This is a ten-minute read.
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Hello and Salam alaykum friends 👋🏾,
I hope you’ve had a good week so far, and if not, I hope your weekend is restorative and rejuvenating. My writing (and health) this week was all over the place, and in trying to pay attention to what my body is saying, I’m hoping to prioritise rest this weekend and pick up where I left off next week.
On the other hand, I’m trying to ensure I remain cognisant of where my writing sits on my list of my priorities on a daily basis. I’d love to hear from you (feel free to comment or respond by email):
How do you ensure you keep writing when life seems to get in the way?
Each month, we share an interview with a Black and/or Muslim woman writer or creative. This month, we have Anu Adebogun, the author of Black and Brave History: 30 Sheroes Who Shook Britain, and a close friend who continues to inspire me with all that she does.
About Anu:
Anu Adebogun is a British-Nigerian author, educator, researcher and award-winning youth worker. Recognised by the Universal Peace Federation UK for her work, Anu has campaigned and partnered with leading UK national organisations to deliver sessions to thousands of young people to promote their safety, wellbeing and access to education. She is a trustee and advisory board member of several charities and community projects serving young people of minority or marginalised background. She holds a first-class law degree and completed an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Oxford as a Kalisher Trust Scholar. Anu continues with doctoral study at Oxford University while writing to educate, elevate and inspire.
Name: Anu Adebogun
Book title: Black and Brave History: 30 Sheroes Who Shook Britain
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre/category: Children’s Historical Non-Fiction
Black and Brave History: 30 Sheroes Who Shook Britain is a colourful anthology that celebrates the lives of 30 phenomenal black British women. It recognizes and seeks to educate as to the fact that across British history, black women have been lawmakers, creators, Olympic gold medallists, Pioneer nurses, war veterans and so much more. The book showcases that great legacy whilst also includes reflective spaces, prompts and activities for the reader to engage deeply with the biographies and think about their own past, present and future hopes.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I am inspired and stimulated by so many things. The questions I have about the world, gaps in knowledge, understanding and representation. I am inspired by the young people I have had the privilege of working with over the years – their questions, concerns, aspirations fuel a huge part of my writing endeavours.
Have you always known you were going to write a book(s)? When did it become a dream for you?
I was a bookworm growing up, and a lover of books. I would consume a novel a day back-to-back and give up sleep just to get to the end of a good book. It was not long before I began attempting my own novels and asking (forcing) friends and family to read my work. In that way, I would say I always knew I would write books. However, growing up, my Nigerian parents, though well-meaning, did not consider being a ‘writer’ a thing, and so I was encouraged to lean more into my academic side and study Law, which I was actually really interested in. So, for a while, due to sixth-form, university and just life, I stopped writing, and forgot about how much it actually meant to me. In more recent times I would say that the dream of writing books has been rekindled.
How did the idea for your book come about?
The reason behind the book is multifaceted. Being British-Nigerian myself, growing up in Britain specifically London, Hackney, in the early 2000s - it was a lot, life on a council estate was a lot. I was aware of the world around me. I wasn't oblivious to the fact that I didn't live in a safe neighbourhood. During these times, books were a solace, companion and escape from the world around me. I mean, I would forfeit sleep to read and just get lost in another person's world really. So, writing the book comes from the place of wanting to give someone else that gift.
Also, we had to watch the Roots movie in geography class, and it was traumatic. It was absolutely traumatic. And so, when black history month would come along, hearing about Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King was very much welcome, and I found myself inspired by the integrity and impact of their lives. However, their stories were from across the Atlantic and seemed just a bit out of touch from my reality on a council flat estate in London.
Where were the black British women, past and present, trailblazing in Britain?
My childhood and school history lessons exempted the presence, impact and struggle of black British people from the curriculum and this is the reason why ‘Black and Brave History’ exists today.
As a young African girl growing up in London, what would it have meant if I knew about Fanny Eaton, a black model in Victorian England that made art more inclusive by just being herself. What if I knew about Patricia Scotland, who grew up in Walthamstow, East London, but became the youngest person ever to become a Queen's Counsel Barrister in the UK, and then went on to become the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. While researching for this book, it blew my mind to discover the many, many unique and wonderful black British women and their incredible contributions to Britain and national history. The purpose of this book is to celebrate and share that truth.
What’s your favourite part about the writing process?
Perhaps because I am a researcher and reader by nature, I find the learning, note-taking, brainstorming and researching aspects of writing really interesting. My favourite part of the writing process is overcoming the fear of the blank page at the start of a new project or idea. I love going from a white screen to gradually seeing the words progress on the page, whether it’s in bullet format or even a list of questions. I find it enjoyable to actually see a work in progress, progress.
I am learning to enjoy the formative parts of my writing process, the incoherence and messiness of draft zero. It’s becoming one of my favourite parts of the writing process.
What was the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Completing the first full draft was a really difficult process, and this is for many reasons. Subconsciously, for a long time I still very much had the mindset that writing was to be done as and when possible, and things like university, finding a ‘real job’ and working were priorities. Committing to the writing process required that I undergo a paradigm shift wherein writing became central to my routine. I also had to confront the inner critique that would often rise when I sat down to write. I got the idea for the book in 2017 and started writing then, but would stop and start, prioritise other work and only finished the first full draft in January 2021.
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Read widely and do not break the writing chain. Whether it is a paragraph or a brain dump, write every day in some form.
As someone who took the non-traditional route of self-publishing, can you tell us a bit about your path to publication? How long did it take to get from idea to publication?
After writing several drafts on my own, I searched out critique readers within the book’s target audience. After making changes on their recommendations, I recruited an experienced developmental editor and line/copy editor, who specialises in children’s books. Once the text had been edited and finalised, I commissioned an incredible Black British female illustrator, Josephine Oluyitan, and we began brainstorming on the book’s artwork and portraits for the women. Once the images were complete, I commissioned a book cover designer, as I wanted some of the artwork incorporated on the cover.
With editing completed, artwork finalised and book cover on hand, I sought out an interior book designer who also had book formatting skills. After designing the interior of the book, I commissioned her to format the book's dimensions to fit the specifications of Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark. I have used both publishing and distribution channels to print and publish this book.
What was your biggest learning during the self-publishing process?
That it is absolutely possible and normal to learn as you go. Before self-publishing, I was very much that person that wanted to wait for the situation to be perfect before starting, and this is one big reason why it took so long for the book to come out. I absolutely did not have a clue, but I also somehow wanted to get completely clued up before I started the process.
Going on this journey taught me that it is very possible to learn as we are making our way. While I am far from an expert, I have a lot more knowledge now on the publishing process, from ISBN and Book Publishing Codes, to how to find great freelancers, vet their suitability for my project, and create briefs to commission them for specific jobs. However, each learning stage came with a milestone crossed.
If you could share one piece of advice with an aspiring writer, what would it be?
Give yourself the gift of a full first draft.
It does not matter if no one else ever reads it, let it be for you. Even if its whole purpose is to show you that you can complete a body of work, it is enough.
What do you hope readers would get out of your book?
The book invites the reader to connect with the stories of 30 Black Sheroes and use them for intentional inspiration, through reflective prompts. When you combine this with bright, bold illustrations, a useful glossary and a comprehensive list of resources to continue research, this book is a useful educational and self-development tool for everyone.
As someone juggling several responsibilities, what does your writing routine look like?
I am still working on making writing a daily practice, because I can often find myself researching and reading around ideas, which although useful, is often not the substantive (read hardest) part, writing is. On the days when I’m in the ‘zone’, I tend to wake up earlier to write before getting on with work for the day. On days where I find that I’m not so enthusiastic about other work, I try and re-frame writing on the project I find most interesting as the reward for the day.
Where can readers find your work?
My books can be found online at: WHSmith, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and several others.
How can readers connect with you?
Website | Instagram: @AnuAdebogun | LinkedIn | Email
✍🏾 Writing Prompt
Shame can be a very strong motivator for actions. Write a short story a character does everything possible to hide something they’re ashamed about. You can choose whether people find out or not
📚 On my reading list
Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé: This book follows the people of a small town following the sudden death of a disliked foreigner who’d recently arrived in their town. I love books set in a small town/village where each person shares their perspective on an event that’s affected all of them. It reminds me of the fable of six men who had never seen an elephant being offered a moment with it in a dark room at night. They all encountered different parts of the elephant’s body and came away describing it in different ways, each convinced their description was the accurate one.
The Storm House by Tim Liardet: In this poetry collection, Liardet uses his words to work through his grief following the death of his brother. It’s raw and incisive and you feel the pain in the rendering of the poems. I love reading about grief, how it manifests in several forms, its unpredictability and the ways in which one person can experience it so differently with different deaths. I’m also curious about how writers process their grief, whether they need ample time away from the event before writing about it or utilise writing in making sense of or understanding the experience.
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka: This is mostly written in the collective “we”, usually referring to “some of us” and it’s been good so far. I wasn’t thrown off by the style as I’d recently read her second book which employs a similar technique. Although the first person plural brings about a feeling of togetherness, it also creates a sort of distance between the reader and the characters of the story.
🎁 Giveaway
Fill in the form below for a chance to win a copy of Anu’s non-fiction book, Black and Brave History: 30 Sheroes Who Shook Britain.
P.S. I’ll be doing more of these over time, particularly for craft books I’ve found beneficial, so watch this space!
And that’s it, folks! If you enjoyed reading this and found it beneficial, why not spread the word?
Wishing you a blessed and splendid weekend! :)
Till next time,
Suad x
When it's difficult to write:
I've just started to pursue writing, but so far I've been doing lots of research and taking notes so when I'm planning I'll have lots of ways to start writing when I sit down to finally write for the first time. Writing with direction and end goal in mind is important to me. When I just sit down to write without any planning I can't seem to fill the page to my satisfaction.