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  • Abena Eyeson

    British Ghanaian writer, creating stories about children

    Represented by Gill McLay of Bath Literary Agency

     

    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

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    I’m a writer of Ghanaian descent, based in the UK, writing contemporary stories 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

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    Looking Up

    A story about family, friendship and starting again

     

    ISBN 978-1-916000407

    (Distributed by Ingram)

    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.

     

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    Book 2

    My second novel is out on submission to publsiehrs, Fingers crossed, it finds a publishing home soon.

  • 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.

    Literary Agent

    I am represented by Gill McLay of Bath Literary Agency.

     

  • My News/ Media

    Interviews, Reviews, Magazine and Newspaper features

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    My appearance on the

    Melanin Djali Podcast

    I enjoyed my chat with Louisa on her podcast The Melanin Djali Project Conversation.

     

    Check out the full conversation on Youtube

    Family Ties & Storytelling ft Abena Eyeson "LOOKING UP" S2-E36 - YouTube

    #children'sbookpodcast #writingpodcast #children'swriterspodcast #africanchildrenwriterspodcast #melanindjaliconversation

     

     

     

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

     

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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.

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    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.

     

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    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

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

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    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

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    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

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    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

    Alkebulan Festival Sunday 30th October 2022
    2022年10月22日 · Representation,Alkebulan,fesitival,Black history month,Books
    Hope all is well with you. I will be at the Alkebulan Festival in Hitchen on Sunday, 30th October, part of the Black history month celebrations in the UK. Organised by Black Voices Letchworth, festivals like this are invaluable. They provide the opporunity for writers like me to meet the...
    My booklist on Shepherd.com The black child in Britain: family, friendship and overcoming challenges
    2022年9月26日 · 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
    2020年12月4日 · 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...

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