Coronet pre-empts debut from Love Island star Yewande Biala

Coronet has pre-empted a book of essays from scientist and "Love Island" star Yewande Biala, covering everything from the microaggressions Black women face on dating apps to navigating a career when the odds are stacked against your success. 

Commissioning editor Joelle Owusu-Sekyere acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Reclaiming from Silé Edwards at Mushens Entertainment in a "significant" overnight pre-empt ahead of an auction. The book will be published on 12th May 2022. 

In the book Biala will be expanding on her recent piece in the Independent on racial renaming and outlining in a series of essays helpful and practical ways readers can navigate challenging and complex situations. She will also recount personal experiences, along with a wide representation of real-life stories from prominent figures and everyday readers, including positive affirmations and empowering messages. The publisher said: "Reclaiming will be a guide to maintaining your identity in a world that would rather see you change."

Owusu-Sekyere said: “I am absolutely delighted to working with Yewande to bring her vision to life. I’ve been blown away already with her writing and I am thrilled to be playing a small part in the next stage of her writing career. Her debut, Reclaiming, is an important, enlightening, celebratory book about being who you are, not who you are expected to be, and there has never been a better time for this message than now.”

Edwards added: “I have long admired Yewande’s ability to put a voice and a name to universal experiences. Her viral essay on renaming opened up a conversation about the importance of owning and claiming your identity, and I am absolutely thrilled to be working with her, Joelle and the team at Hodder on this book, which is sure to start many more important conversations.”

Biala commented: "I am so pleased to be working with Joelle and the team at Coronet. From the beginning they completely got my passion and vision for the book, I can’t wait to share Reclaiming with everyone. I hope that it inspires people to be brave and accept who they are, rather than who the world wants them to be."