Selina Brown

Selina Brown is a British author and literary events producer of Jamaican heritage. She has written three children's picture books, two about a girl named Nena and a third titled My Rice is Best. She is the founder and CEO of the Black British Book Festival, which has become the largest Black literature festival in Europe.

Early life and education

Selina Brown was raised by her British mother and Jamaican grandmother.[1] Brown attended Cumberland Community School in Plaistow and completed her A Levels at Newham Sixth Form College in 2008. Brown graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology from the Goldsmiths, University of London and then a Master of Science (MSc) from the University of East London.[2] As a teenager, she became active in public service: at age 16 she was elected Youth Mayor (Youth MP) of Nottingham.[3]

Career

Brown's early career included marketing and communications roles at media organisations.[4]

As an author, she self-published two children's picture books during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] These feature a young girl named Nena who learns to enjoy fruits and vegetables.[5] In 2024, she secured a two-book publishing deal with Penguin Random House Children’s UK.[6] Her debut picture book for this contract My Rice is Best explores cultural pride and friendship through the humorous rivalry between two children over their favorite rice dishes.[7]

In 2021, Brown launched the Black British Book Festival.[8][9] The festival was conceived to celebrate emerging Black British authors and to address the lack of representation in the literary industry.[10] The festival grew rapidly; by 2023, it partnered with London's Southbank Centre and drew thousands of attendees, and media have described it as the largest Black literature festival in Europe.[11][12] She was recognized for this work as Leader of the Year at The Bookseller FutureBook Awards in 2024[13] and the London Book Fair Trailblazer Award in 2025.[14]

Brown also hosts the Write and Win Podcast with Selina Brown, a weekly podcast for writers.

Publications

  • Nena: The Green Juice (self-published 2020)
  • Nena: Granny’s Magic Fruit Salad (self-published 2020)
  • "Never Make Peace with Mediocrity" in Encounters with James Baldwin: Celebrating 100 years (Supernova Books, 2024)
  • My Rice is Best (Penguin Random House Children's UK, to be published 8 May 2025)[7][15]

References

  1. ^ Brown, Selina (31 October 2023). was time to change the narrative': How I created the Black British Book Festival. Big Issue. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  2. ^ "Selina Brown". Newham Sixth Form College. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  3. ^ Selina Brown The Flip Interview, 2023
  4. ^ a b Clare (21 June 2023) Q&A with Selina Brown. Writers and Artists. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  5. ^ "About". Nena's World. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  6. ^ Gohil, Neha (2 October 2024) Black British Book festival founder criticises lack of diversity in publishing The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  7. ^ a b Fraser, Katie (11 February 2025) Puffin signs 'joyful' picture book from Selina Brown and Maxwell A Oginni The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  8. ^ Brown, Selina (1 February 2025) Five Questions With... Selina Brown, CEO of the Black British Book Festival Arts Council England. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  9. ^ Woodal, Sophia (7 February 2024)A Day in the Life: Selina Brown, CEO and Founder of the Black British Book Festival The Hub (The London Book Fair). Retrieved 30 April 2025
  10. ^ Okusaga, Esther (13 October 2023) Selina Brown Is Filling A Gap In Our Literary Culture Black Ballad. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  11. ^ Brown, Lauren Pinnock, Mabuse and more confirmed for Black British Book Festival as event moves to London The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  12. ^ Chasing dreams with ferocity The Voice Newspaper. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  13. ^ Melina, Spanoudi (25 November 2024) FutureBook Awards winners announced as Samar Habib triumphs in new Freelancer of the Year category The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 April 2025
  14. ^ Trailblazers Awards 2025 Shortlist Revealed The London Book Fair, Retrieved 30 April 2025
  15. ^ Campbell, Joel (2025-05-19). "Rice and peas or Jollof?". Voice Online. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
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