Page 37 - Powerlist 2020

Valerie Brandes was awarded the International Excellence Award for Arts, Fashion & Design
Founder and CEO, Jacaranda Books Inclusivity in Publishing on behalf of Jacaranda Books.
The company was also shortlisted for The Bookseller’s

Small Publisher of the Year award, and Praise Song for
Valerie has spent her career championing diverse the Butterflies by Bernice L McFadden was longlisted
voices. In 2012, she founded publishing house for the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Jacaranda Books to challenge the status quo and bring Valerie is passionate about equality and social justice.
fresh voices to the literary scene. Under her leadership, She gives talks across the UK on publishing, inclusivity
the brand has introduced voices from across Africa, and female entrepreneurship and served on the
Asia and the Americas and is increasingly recognised committees for Equip and Fiction Uncovered.
as the publisher of choice for diverse, new writing – In January, Valerie and her team announced the 20
and an example of black excellence within publishing. selected authors for the Twenty in 2020 project, formed
With the aim of providing careers for young people of in partnership with Joy Francis of Words of Colour.
colour, Valerie hired two innovative, young women to It will see Jacaranda Books publish 20 black British
Jacaranda’s editorial team at the start of 2019. The new writers in 2020.
editors are developing a fresh non-fiction list, with a Commercial partnerships include a deal with
particular focus on Black British youth culture, and a a leading international audiobook publisher that
newly-formed Young Adult list focused on people of will provide an immense opportunity for black
colour, including the LGBTQ+ community. British voice actors and reinforce the goals of
2019 has been a vintage year for Valerie. In March she Twenty in 2020.

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