We are pleased to announce that Milton Keynes’ Indie Book Fair will return on Saturday 26th September 2026, from 10:30am until 5pm at the Middleton Hall, as part of the MK Lit Fest 2026. The Roaring Lion Newcastle is proud to support this festival, alongside 100 other independently published authors and small presses. The MK Lit Fest, debuting in 2017, prides itself on bringing contemporary writing to the city. Additionally, the festival aspires to give a platform to emerging voices, especially to marginalised writers such as members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of colour. The MK Lit Fest values locality, offering people opportunities within the city and diversity. The Indie Book Fair will be an amazing opportunity to learn more about the work of independent publishers and authors. Attendees will get the chance to talk to authors about their craft or receive advice, hear them read from their work, and buy exceptional books from a wide range of genres (including poetry, children’s

On Saturday, 5th September 2026, from 11am to 5pm, there will be a Multicultural Book and Poetry Fair taking place in Conway Hall, Red Lion Square (WC1R 4RL). This fair offers a diverse range of stories, voices, and genres from all over the globe, with readings and talks occurring in the Brockway Room. The Multicultural Book and Poetry Fair aims to uplift previously unheard voices in the most accessible way possible with free publishing (or publishing for a small fee). Therefore, TRLN is proud to stand beside the seventy other independent publishing companies to support this book and poetry fair that priorities diversity and opportunity. This event is free entry, so secure the tickets here before they run out! In its third year running, the Multicultural Book and Poetry Fair has added a Children’s Corner for age-suitable readings and to allow this event to be family-friendly. This will take place in the Bertrand Russell Room with storyteller Sarah Lloyd-Winder. There is also an open mi

Jide Badmus writes with defiance, sensuality, and humour in this poetry collection where war acts as an extended metaphor for sex, bodies, and intimacy. Throughout the collection, Badmus is frank enough to convey meaning, yet ambiguous enough to allow analysis. He compares (and blurs the line) between lovers and fighters, removing armour and undressing, truces and romantic compromise, and laying down weapons and reconciliation in a relationship. Badmus addresses the complexities of romance with this metaphor that spans the collection and provides a thematic intersection between the works. Instead of shying away from the explicit, Badmus embraces the erotic, playing with sayings, comparisons, and allowing a power to be felt by the reader in this resistance, especially as it explores Black bodies and unconditional pleasure. As someone who occasionally finds poetry to be inaccessible, this collection was an antidote to that feeling. It proved to be understandable, but crucially, it had de

The Roaring Lion Newcastle is holding a book giveaway for TWO lucky winners. You could either win ‘For the Condemned’ by Joseph Nnamdi or ‘Many Ways to Die’ by Chukwuemeka Famous, along with some beautiful bookmarks. Following our successful release of these two books at the end of June, we would love to offer you the chance to get your hands on a copy of one of these fantastic pieces of literature. You might see our promotion across numerous social media platforms, but make sure to head over to our Instagram account, @theroaringlionnewcastle, to enter! Here are our simple steps to enter: 1. Follow us on Instagram 2. Like the promotional Instagram post 3. Tag a friend in the comments 4. Share the post to your story If your comment has been liked by our account, you have successfully entered. Winners will then be selected randomly! A few more details to keep in mind: 1. This is UK only 2. The competition runs from 17th August-31st August 3. This will close at 11:59pm (BST) 4. One winner

To celebrate The Roaring Lion Newcastle’s two new titles, Chukwuemeka Famous’ Many Ways to Die and Joseph Nnamdi’s For the Condemned, we held our very own online launch event to delve deeper into the literary artistry of both authors! The evening featured an introduction from TRLN’s founder, Tolu’ A. Akinyemi, on the importance of championing talented writers and creating opportunities in the literary space, followed by an exclusive panel interview with both authors and an in-depth audience discussion. Tolu’ A. Akinyemi also shared insights on plans to expand the imprint with hopes to sign more authors in the future and the pride we bring to our books and authors. He highlighted how stories like these can inspire the next generation of African writers who will shape the future of literary culture. Joseph Nnamdi’s For the Condemned is his debut novel, a dark fantasy, crime thriller, and a deep reflection on the corruption and police brutality within Nigeria’s police force. It follows th

Gbenga Adesina, an acclaimed Nigerian essayist, poet, and recipient of the 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Poetry Award, joins dRAFTed as the Guest Judge for the Q3 2026 submission period. The Roaring Lion Newcastle is thrilled to introduce Gbenga Adesina, who will be joining us as the guest judge for the upcoming round of dRAFTed, our quarterly support fund for Nigerian creative writers. As an influential voice in contemporary poetry, Adesina is the inaugural Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Poetry at the Furious Flower Poetry Center, James Madison University, one of the leading centres for the study and celebration of black poetry in the United States, and the author of Death Does Not End At The Sea, which was longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award, as well as being shortlisted for both the 2026 Griffin Poetry Prize and the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection. Adesina’s essays and poems have appeared across major literary magazines and journals, including The Best Americ