Renegade signs broadcaster Charlene White’s exploration of home

Renegade Books, the commercial imprint of Dialogue Books, has acquired a “holistic look at the idea of home in Britain” by journalist and broadcaster Charlene White.

Dialogue’s managing director Sharmaine Lovegrove acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to No Place Like Home from Elise Middleton at YMU, to be published on 5th September 2024.

In No Place Like Home, White “boldly shares her own story and understanding of home as a Jamaican Londoner exploring all the smells, memories and voices from her childhood”.

The publisher’s description continues: “Alongside her personal story, White interviews eight individuals who give their perspectives on home and their experiences that are shaped by myriad events from difficult family situations to desperate political upheaval and war. No Place Like Home is a powerful and heartfelt exploration of family, food and finding your place, as well as the moments in history that have changed the way we feel about the simplest of terms: ’home’.”

White, a columnist for the i Paper who hosts both “Loose Women” and “ITV News”, said: “After what seems like an eternity of thinking about it, I’ve finally taken the leap, put pen to paper, and immersed myself in the beauty that is continuing to tell other peoples’ stories, but through writing. Having Sharmaine and her Dialogue Books team, plus Elise and the YMU literary team, accompany me on that journey is honestly a dream come true. The idea of what we call ‘home’ is so very individual to all of us, depending on so many different factors. From food, to phrases, places, to smells, to feelings we struggle to find the words for – what we call ‘home’ is genuinely fascinating.

“In this book I’ve talked to a cross-section of people to see what it means to them, including: those who’ve grown up in the care system, children’s homes, and the streets; a family who made the decision to flee the Ukraine war; the connection those who’ve served in the British military have to home; the family dynamics that have been impacted by decisions made by those in charge of countries far far away. Through their stories, I tell the history of a series of world events, which have impacted how we see ourselves and what we call home.

“And what about me? Having been raised in a Jamaican home in the UK, it’s also the story of where my heart lies. In fact, there’s a Welsh word that sums it up perfectly: Hiraeth – a pull on the heart because of homesickness, longing and nostalgia.”

Lovegrove said: “I was bowled over by Charlene’s heartfelt and enquiring proposal to consider what family, food and finding your place meant around the idea of home. Working with Charlene on this book has been fantastic, as she proves herself to not only be a brilliant journalist and exceptional broadcaster but also a talented writer who generously brings others on the narrative alongside her own.”

Middleton added: “Charlene is a brilliantly generous, empathetic, and curious person, and all of these qualities are easily found in her writing. No Place Like Home is a warm and intelligent book, inviting us to examine the social and cultural contexts of where we put down our roots, and it has the perfect home with Sharmaine and the Dialogue team.”