Malorie Blackman to boycott US literature festivals after Trump travel policy

Former children's laureate Malorie Blackman has vowed to boycott literature festivals and events in the US while Donald Trump's "travel ban" policy - barring refugees and arrivals from predominantly Muslim countries - is in place.

"Thank you to all those who have invited me to various US lit fests/events," the former children's laureate tweeted on Saturday (28th January), "but I won't be visiting the US any time soon."

Blackman accompanied her post with a retweet of reports of discussions in the White House that foreign visitors should be forced to disclose the websites and social sites they visit and even share contacts from their phones.

The controversial immigration ban, restricting the travel of citizens from seven Muslim countries to the US, has caused global outrage, including among the literary community. In the UK, one million people have signed a petition to stop Trump making an official state visit, which he was invited to do by prime minister Theresa May last week. Author Robert Harris has been active in promoting the petition on Twitter.

Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good Immigrant (Unbound) - an essay collection which examines race and immigration - has been leaving copies of the book in and around Brooklyn, along with writer and contibutor Chimene Suleyman.

Shukla tweeted: "Brothers and sisters of the soul unite we are one indivisable and strong."