Jendella Benson - All That We've Got

We are delighted to announce that we have Birmingham born author, Jendella Benson joining us here at The Heath Bookshop to discuss her book, 'All That We've Got'.  Jendella will be in conversation with multi-award winning writer, producer, performer, and community organiser, Siana Bangura.

Jendella Benson is Head of Editorial at Black Ballad - the award-winning digital platform for Black British women - and has previously been a columnist for Media Diversified, MTV UK, and Christian Today. She has written for Metro Online and Independent Voices, as well as had her visual work featured in The Guardian, The Metro, The Voice Newspaper, and on London Live. 

Her short story, KINDLING, was published in The Book of Birmingham and her visual work has been exhibited across the UK and internationally, most notably at the House of Commons, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and at the International Center of Photography in New York as part of ICP Projected in May 2018.

Finally, Jendella is a TEDx speaker who has also appeared on BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour, as well as speaking at various universities and conferences.

All That We've Got: 

Mimi is a single mum in her twenties, looking to break free from her family's judgements and her church's oppressive, hypocritical gossip to establish who she is on her own. But a dangerous new romance could lead her into trouble...

Meanwhile, fifteen-year-old Abi dreams of emulating the life she sees through social media and helping her mother with the bills. When she's offered the chance to make money fast by helping a group of local boys, she and her friends jump at it.

But soon they're crossing county lines, and Abi finds she's in over her head...

Could Mimi and Abi forge a bond that could free them both, at the heart of a community they've taken for granted?

Praise for All That We've Got:

‘I loved this book so much’ – Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie

‘Few people can write the way Jendella does’ – Kelechi Okafor, author of Edge of Here

‘A heartwarming story about the strength of…Black women’ – Taylor-Dior Rumble, author of The Situationship

‘An engrossing, empowering story’ – Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?

Siana Bangura [pronounced ‘see-anna’] (she/her) is a multi-award winning writer, producer, performer, and community organiser, hailing from South East London, currently living, working, and creating between London and the West Midlands. Siana is the founder and former editor of the Black British Feminist platform, No Fly on the WALL; she is the author of the critically acclaimed debut collection, ‘Elephant’, a book of poetry meditating on Black British womanhood and life growing up in London; the producer of ‘1500 & Counting’, a documentary film investigating deaths in custody and police brutality in the UK; the founder of Courageous Films, a social-justice focused documentary production house; and Producer at Siana Bangura Productions, a creative studio focusing on curating work, events and multi-layered experiences across the arts with care and intention. As a playwright, Siana’s recent works include the play ‘Swim, Aunty, Swim!’, which was named Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards and recognised at the Black British Theatre Awards 2024.

A multi-disciplinary leader, Siana works and campaigns on issues of race, class, and gender and their intersections and is currently working on projects focusing on climate justice, the arms trade, Tech Justice, and state violence. Her work has featured in publications such as The Guardian, The Metro, Evening Standard, Black Ballad, Consented, Green European Journal, The Fader, and Dazed as well as the 'Loud Black Girls' anthology, presented by Slay In Your Lane. Across her vast portfolio of work, Siana’s mission is to help move voices and experiences traditionally marginalised, from the margins, to the centre.

We now have a hearing loop at the bookshop. Please get in touch if you would like to use it and have front seats reserved.

See you there,

Catherine & Claire