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    • Abena Eyeson

      British Ghanaian writer, creating stories about children

      FAB Prize 2021 Commended Text Prize winner

      Jericho Prize 2021 Picture book longlisted

      Longlisted TLC Pen Factor Writing Prize 2022

      Twitter @ey_abs, Instagram @lookingup_ab, Facebook @LookingupAE

      I’m a writer of Ghanaian descent, based in the UK, writing contemporary fiction for children with crossover appeal.

       

      I’m delighted by the positive response my work has received so far, and I’m looking forward to sharing my future books as they come to fruition, but in the meantime, check out my current work in

       

      the Books section (where you will find links to bookstores selling my books)

       

      and

       

      keep up to date with my news in the news/media section and by subscribing.

    • My Books

      Looking Up

      A story about family, friendship and starting again

       

      ISBN 978-1-916000407

      (Distributed by Ingram)

      Available to buy from:

      Amazon (UK and all other Amazon regions - ebook) and paperback 

      Amazon.com - paperback and ebook (US)

      Goodreads (reviews and links to booksellers)

      Afrori Books (UK) paperback

      Bookshop.org (UK) paperback

      Hive (paperback)

      Barnes and Noble online (US)- paperback

      Loyalty Books (US) - paperback

      Politics and Prose Bookstore (US) - paperback

      Book Depository - paperback

      Chapters/Indigo online (Canada) - paperback

      Booktopia (Australia) - paperback

      Fishpond - paperback

      Exclusive books (South Africa) - paperback

      Loot Online (South Africa) - paperback

      Booknook (Ghana) - paperback

       

       

      Thirteen-year-old Esi is reluctantly on her way to London, England.
       
      After many happy years with Grandma in Ghana, she is joining Maggie, the mother she hasn’t lived with since the age of six.
       
      Her move to London, not only forces Esi to deal with challenges she’s never faced before, but it brings up lots of questions about Solomon, her absent father, and Maggie - the answers to which in the end change her life.

       

      "Looking Up is a breezy read that gives great insight into teenage life, immigrant viewpoints, and multicultural perspectives."

      Anastasia Shown, Published in Africa Access Review (October 1, 2019)

       

      "Abena Eyeson has penned a gripping family drama with engaging and emotional plot lines that makes it impossible to put down this book. Remember the last time you read a book in a few sittings? Get ready when you pick up the story of Esi Asantewa in 'Looking Up.' What a brave girl Esi is! I would be disappointed if I did not see this family drama in a cinema near me in future."

      Nataka Books Review, January 2022

       

      "Looking Up' made me ponder on what it must have felt like for my pre-teen sister to leave everything she knew in Ghana and make a new life in the UK. We often overlook the impact that this has on children. Abena's book addresses it." Book review, Akadi magazine, February 2021

       

      " A sensitive and delightful story of tension and reconciliation in a Ghanaian family in London."

      Professor A N Mensah, Retired Professor of English, University of Ghana, 2019.

       

      Book 2

      I am currently working on my next book.

    • Short Bio

      Education

      I have a BA (Hons) in Law and Sociology and a Masters in Industrial Relations from Warwick University, England as well as a PhD in Development Studies from University of East Anglia, England.

      Why do I write fiction?

      My love of books, drama and writing led me to start creating fiction. I aim to create strong central characters dealing with the challenges that life has presented them with.

      Personal

      I am married with three children which is wonderful but demanding too.

      Did you know ...

      At school and at university, I loved acting on stage and performing poetry. I remember being the only non-drama student in a university drama production. I guess the ability to imagine being someone else helps me write fiction.

    • My News/ Media

      Interviews, Reviews, Magazine and Newspaper features

      TLC Pen Factor 2022

      I am pleased to have been longlisted for the 2022 TLC Pen Factor writing prize. Congratulations to all those long longlisted, shortlisted, the finalist and winner.

      TLC Pen Factor Winner Receives £2,000 of writing support - The Literary Consultancy

       

      #TLCpenfactor #BAWF #BAWF2022 #Writingawards

      Herts Book Festival 2022

      I am looking forward to appearing at the Herts Book Festival in May 2022.

       

      Herts Book Festival – Because books are for everyone!

       

      #hertsbookfestival #booksareforeveryone #blackbritishbooks #diversereads

      Longlisted for the Jericho Prize 2021

      I am very excited to have been longlisted for the inaugural Jericho Prize for a picture book that I wrote.

      https://www.jerichoprize.com/home/our-longlists

       

      #jerichoprize

      #abenaeyeson

      #picturebooks

      FAB Prize 2021

      I was a Commended Text Winner in the FAB Prize 2021 for my new novel Running my Race, which is not yet published. Thank you #FaberChildren.

      #FABPrize #AbenaEyeson

       

      https://www.twitter.com/FaberChildrens/status/1453412385847394307?s=20

       

      Nataka Books reviews 

      Looking Up

      Check out this lovely review of Looking Up on the Nataka Books blog:

       

      Nataka Books Review: Looking Up by Abena Eyeson

       

      #bookreview #africanbookreview

      #recommendedbook #migrationstories #ghanabook #blackbritishauthor #lookingup #blackbritishbook #buyabook

      #natakabooks

      #africannovel #cleanreads

      Looking Up reaches Nigeria

      See this lovely review by Farida at Bookreview Cafe Nigeria. https://twitter.com/BookwormCafeNG/status/1495834563100164101?t=PSOasjH5u4KaTl3k8Q5jeA&s=03

       

      #BookReview #lookingup #africanbooks #ghanabooks #cleanreads

      HeyAnci Reivew

      Thanks for the 4 star review on your blog @heyanci

      HeyAnci – God's own arrow shot for his glory (wordpress.com)

       

      #bookreview #africanbookreview #bookrecommendation #recommendedbook #blackyabook #migrationstories #ghanabook #africanbooks #blackbritishauthor #lookingup #blackbritishyabook #yabook #lookingup #cleanreads

      Michaela Woelk Reivew

      Thanks for the wonderful review on your blog @Michaela Woelk. Read the full review on her blog Author | Michaela Woelk

       

      #bookreview #africanbookreview #bookrecommendation #recommendedbook #blackyabook #migrationstories #ghanabook #africanbooks #blackbritishauthor #lookingup #blackbritishyabook #yabook #lookingup #cleanreads

      Check out the interesting review by Assistant Head teacher Azuraye on her instagram page

      Azuraye - Twitter: @chocpud85 (@chocpud_tales) • Instagram photos and videos

       

      #bookreview #africanbookreview #recommendedbook #blackyabook #migrationstories #ghanabook #blackbritishauthor #lookingup #blackbritishyabook #yabook #lookingup #cleanreads

      Catch a reading from my novel Looking Up on the YouTube channel Stories that have Wings.

      (1) Looking Up: A reading by Joycelyn Manu - YouTube

      #bookreading #diversebooks

      #ownvoices

      #lookingup

      A lovely, detailed review of my novel in Akadi magazine

      https://www.akadimagazine.com/post/a-review-of-looking-up-by-abena-eyeson

       

      #childrensfiction #teenfiction #bookreview

      #blackbookreview #africanbookreview

      #blackbritishbookreview

      Excited to have been shortlisted as a finalist for the #DHA Open Week in January 2021 by the literary agents David Higham Associates (DHA) for the new novel that I am working on.

       

      My twitter handle is @ey_abs.

      My interview with Afrori Books of Black Origin which is on their Youtube channel.

      https://youtu.be/QJ1zoD6HVZU

       

      Looking Up is now available to buy from Afrori Books.

       

      Thrilled to have been featured in the Ghanaians in Literature issue of Akadi magazine. Check it out!

      https://www.akadimagazine.co.uk/2010464/

      #akadimagazine #ghanaiansinliterature #ghanaianwriters

      Check out my interview on the Black Fiction Addiction Blog http://blackfictionaddiction.com/2020/09/abena-eyeson-2/

      Looking Up is featured on the UK Black Writers Forum website. Click on the link to see the article

      https://ukblackwritersforum.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/checkout-looking-up/

      #ukblackwritersforum #africanfiction #youngadultauthors #ghanabritishauthor #blackbritishfiction #blackbritishauthors

      A cute review by a younger reader on Mango Bubbles Books https://mangobubblesbooks.com/2019/06/22/looking-up-abena-eyeson-reviewed-by-bluesky-age-12/

      #childrenbookreviewers #bookreview #diversebookreview #blackbookreview #blackbritishbookreview #lookingup

      Africa Access reviews 

      Looking Up

      Check out this wonderful review of Looking Up by Africa Access Review in the USA who provide scholarly reviews of children’s and young adult books that focus on Africa. 

       http://africaaccessreview.org/2019/10/lookin-up-a-family-drama/

      #bookreview #africanbookreview #recommendedbook #blackyabook #migrationstories #ghanabook #blackbritishauthor #lookingup #blackbritishyabook #yabook #lookingup

    • Abena's Blog

      My booklist on Shepherd.com The black child in Britain: family, friendship and overcoming challenges
      September 26, 2022 · Black History,Black novels,Black child,Black history month,Black British
      This month, I had the pleasure of creating a booklist of novels that embody the theme of the black child in Britain: family, friendship and overcoming challenges for Shepherd.com , a website that is providing a new way to discover books online. I was restricted to five books, so though I could...
      Books make wonderful Christmas gifts
      December 4, 2020 · Diverse books,Gift a book,Representation,Black authors,Christmas presents
      As we near the end of 2020, a year that has been tumultous, challenging and life changing for many, it is time to think of Christmas gifts for our friends and family, even though Christmas 2020 will not be Christmas as we know it. As the rush for Christmas gift buying begins, I want to raise...
      Seasons Greetings December 2019
      December 22, 2019 · Christmas,Bookish Christmas,Season of goodwill,Relax with a book,Reasonfortheseason
      Wishing you a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New year. Remember the reason for the season. Enjoy and relax xx
      More Posts

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