Just Sayin'

The long-awaited autobiography of one of the world's greatest children's writers, and an empowering and inspiring account of a life in books.

Just Sayin' is the long-awaited autobiography of Malorie Blackman OBE, one of the most beloved and widely-read writers in Britain. For over thirty years, her books have helped to shape British culture and inspired generations of younger readers and writers. The Noughts and Crosses series, started in 2000, sparked a new and necessary conversation about race and identity in the UK and has become an undisputed classic of twenty-first-century children's literature.

Blackman's life has been significantly influenced by books, beginning with her childhood in south London. As the daughter of parents who moved to Britain from Barbados as part of the Windrush Generation, she experienced a childhood that was both wonderful and marred by the everyday racism and bigotry of the era. Despite being told she could not apply to study her first love, literature, at university due to her academic potential, she found her way to a life in writing against numerous obstacles.

This book chronicles that journey, from a childhood filled with words to the 83 rejection letters she received for her first project, leading to her appointment as children's laureate. It delves into the books that have shaped her identity and provides the background to some of today's most beloved and powerful children's stories.

Just Sayin' is an illuminating, inspiring, and empowering account of the power of words to change lives and the extraordinary life story of one of the world's greatest writers.