Author Event

Book Love Carnival is a place that values diversity and progressive thinking, a place where authors, illustrators, and artists come together to explore diversity, inclusion, and social and ethical concerns through their writing and art. At the heart of it all, there is a growing desire to explore socially inclusive and responsible ways of living and working, and the work of Book Love Carnival makes authors’ and artists’ attempts accessible for the audience to enjoy and experience.

Desiree Bashi, an author, illustrator, and dancer known for her diverse art, performed a classical Odissi dance piece called “Vasant Pallavi,” engaging the audience in the dance and storytelling through hand gestures, or mudras. She also presented her book, Dancing with Your Eyes, which explores classical Indian dance eye movement, expression, emotions, and the beauty of discovering the world around us.

During the event at the Black Archives Museum in Brixton in 2018, author Kandace Chimbiri presented her book, The Story of the Windrush, which celebrates the inspiring legacy of the Windrush pioneers. It recounts the arrival of hundreds of Caribbean men, women, and children in London on a ship called the HMT Empire Windrush in June 1948.

Additionally, author, writer, and poet Lucy Zion Thatcher presented her collection of raw thoughts, Small Thoughts and Poetry, which she compiled over the years while using writing as a way to restore emotional balance and well-being. Her work is filled with complex emotions made simple when explored on paper, reflecting her awe-inspiring honesty and her attempts to understand her own emotions and make peace with them.