Damascus, Syria 2008. Photo © Ben Freeman CC BY-NC 2.0
opportunity to nurture and develop writers – instead there is a clamour for “near-perfect” submissions. This makes it even harder for aspiring writers without a support network to give them the time and space to write.
Studies show that there is still a huge problem with under-representation in children’s publishing – both creative and characters, and A. M. Dassu says that publishers need to adapt. “There is a lot of good intent in the publishing industry, I have seen it,” she says. “But publishing is very subjective – one person’s opinion can make or break a career. And the publishing industry is not diverse, so it is natural that the stories editors connect with are similar to the ones they read, or the ones they studied at Oxford, for example. I can understand that, because it’s something they grew up with, they are not used to reading diverse stories and backgrounds.” This approach perpetuates the problems and leaves many children unable to find books that reflect their lives, or that shine a light onto different cultures and experiences. But there are signs of hope, not least in books like Boy, Everywhere that show the power of a strong story and well-crafted characters. It has been a long time for A. M. Dassu to get here and she says: “I just knew I wanted to write, and I realised that this was what I had always wanted to do. The regret I felt at not going for it earlier is huge. I think ‘I could have done this degree aged 21 and by now would have had tonnes of books published already’, but then my mum reminds me that I wouldn’t be the person or the writer I am if I didn’t have the experience I now have.” PEN&INC.
l Boy, Everywhere (9781910646649) by A. M. Dassu is out on 22 October 2020 from Old Barn Books
www.oldbarnbooks.com Twitter: @a_reflective
Autumn-Winter 2020 PEN&INC. 9
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