Jacaranda's objective is to take up space with our business and with our books. Can you say a bit more about this project, and what you achieved in an admittedly difficult year? LOTE was part of #TWENTYIN2020, an initiative which saw you publish twenty books by Black British writers. We found it to be a wonderful read from a talented debut Black British author. It is considered, detailed and layered, with sharp observations on society and culture combined with incisive humour. Shola's work looks at a hugely significant time for the development of art and creative expression, especially among the still outlawed British gay community of the twenties and thirties. It was a standout among the many submissions as the author had created such a unique world in which they pictured Blackness and Queerness in a literary milieu that in Britain is all too familiar, but within which neither blackness (and more specifically black queerness) is rarely if ever depicted. Shola's work was submitted to us as part of the #Twentyin2020 call for submissions. How did you discover Shola von Reinhold and what drew you to the book? LOTE is an extraordinary book by a completely accomplished new voice. We have and continue to show how publishing can be a space for diversity and inclusion. Building an award-winning backlist through translation and UK rights to titles from various territories, Jacaranda won the Inclusivity in Publishing Award at The International Excellence Awards 2019 and Small Press of the Year at the British Book Awards 2020. We are dedicated to publishing ground-breaking books from diverse writers, with a diverse team. Who is Jacaranda Books, and what’s your story so far?įounded in 2012, Jacaranda was created to address the issue of a lack of diversity within publishing.

Shola von reinhold lote