Man Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James will be joining us from America to discuss his new, Africa-inspired breath-taking sage of adventure Black Leopard, Red Wolf. Following the story of Tracker, the skilled and infamous hunter, who’s engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three year earlier. Journey through ancient cities, through dense forests, across deep rivers in this richly detailed and fantastic new adventure. Discussing his life, and his work, Marlon will be joined by award-winning writer Irenosen Okojie.

Marlon James was born in Jamaica in 1970. His novel A Brief History of Seven Killings won the 2015 Man Booker Prize and told the story of the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in Jamaica in 1976 and its aftermath. It was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature for fiction, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for fiction, and the Minnesota Book Award. It was also a New York Times Notable Book. James is also the author of The Book of Night Women, which won the 2010 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the Minnesota Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award in fiction. His first novel John Crow’s Devil was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for first fiction, The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and was a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Marlon divides his time between Minnesota and New York.

Irenosen Okojie is a Nigerian British writer. Her debut novel Butterfly Fish won a Betty Trask award and was shortlisted for an Edinburgh International First Book Award. Her short story collection Speak Gigantular (Jacaranda Books) was shortlisted for the Edgehill Short Story Prize, the Jhalak Prize, the Saboteur Awards and nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Her new collection of stories Nudibranch published by Little Brown's Dialogue Books was longlisted for the Jhalak Prize. She is the winner of the 2020 AKO Caine Prize For Fiction for her story, Grace Jones.

The global Black Lives Matter protests that characterised our summer were truly inspirational. Black communities and anti-racists across the globe are demanding change. Writing on the Wall are proud to present their programme for Black History month featuring some of the most inspirational local, national and international black artists. For a full list of events go to https://www.wowfest.uk/