Fourth Estate to publish Slay in Your Lane journal and anthology

Fourth Estate will publish two more Slay in Your Lane titles following the success of the first book by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené.

Slay in Your Lane: The Journal will be published in September 2019 followed by an anthology in 2020, Slay in Your Lane Presents: Loud Black Girls.

The original Slay in Your Lane, a "guide to life", was published by Fourth Estate last spring following a nine-publisher auction. It went on to be shortlisted for Lifestyle Book of the Year at the British Book Awards as well as garnering many other accolades. It has sold 14,135 copies for just over £184,000, according to Nielsen BookScan.

Publishing director at Fourth Estate Helen Garnons-Williams acquired world language rights in both books from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann. Audio rights in Slay in Your Lane Presents: Loud Black Girls have been acquired by Audible.

The Journal is billed as “a workbook packed full of practical exercises, worksheets, questionnaires and actionable tips, it will help readers get ahead on everything from relationships, starting a successful side hustle, building your personal brand, knowing your worth at work, finances, self care, and health”. Accompanied by empowering step-by-step how-to sections and activities, the “inspirational and practical guide” is described by the HarperCollins imprint as “essential reading for anyone wanting to learn how to slay in their own lane – practically”.

“Designed to help women take charge of all areas of their lives, it will give the reader the tools and the confidence to be in the driving seat of their life, and not just a passenger,” the synopsis reads. “It will require them to step outside their comfort zone, both personally and professionally.” It will be illustrated and designed by Sherida Kuffour who designed the original jacket for Slay in Your Lane.

The authors said: “Our book sparked so many great conversations over the summer of 2018 and on into 2019. We decided to create this journal shortly after our book tour ended last year. After so many events talking to thousands of women we realised that the same questions were cropping up again and again. In this journal we distil our answers to those questions, and the many others raised by Slay in Your Lane, into practical ways to help you create a better more visible future for yourself.”

It will be followed in 2020 by Slay in Your Lane Presents: Loud Black Girls, featuring more than 20 black British writers, both established and emerging. “Readers can expect frank, funny and fearless contributions about what matters to black women today, from a range of prominent voices,” Fourth Estate said. The book will also feature a contribution by the winner of a forthcoming submission competition.

Garnons-Williams said: “Working with Liz and Yomi over the last couple of years has been an incredible and uplifting experience for all of us at Fourth Estate. These two extraordinary, trailblazing women started a national conversation with Slay in Your Lane. Now with Slay in Your Lane: The Journal and the Loud Black Girls anthology they are opening up that conversation and empowering and inspiring others to spread the message and celebrate their own stories.”

The original Slay in Your Lane title will be published in paperback on 13th June.