Launch of Yvvette Edwards new novel The Mother

On Thursday 31 March 2016, Words of Colour Productions hosted a special In Conversation… event with award-winning author Yvvette Edwards to launch her second novel The Mother at Waterstones Piccadilly.

The event attracted a capacity audience and led to her first book – A Cupboard Full of Coats – as well as The Mother, to both sell out in minutes.

Interviewed by Words of Colour’s executive director Joy Francis, Edwards talked about being drawn to writing about black women, domestic violence, knife crime and the ripple effect of trauma, as well as her total adoration of Toni Morrison and appreciation of Stephen King.

She read from both books and held the audience, which included Bernardine Evaristo, Irenosen Okojie, Alex Wheatle, Courttia Newland and Sareeta Domingo, captive with her pacy and detailed prose.

The Mother, published by Mantle (UK) and Amistad (US), is described as “stunning” and “masterful” by author Irenosen Okojie (Butterfly Fish) for its depiction of the harsh realities facing families who have lost children to knife crime.

Picture credit: Lee Townsend.