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A M Dassu

A M Dassu

CWIG committee member 2021-4

A. M. Dassu is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction and is based in the Midlands. She is the author of widely acclaimed MG novel Boy, Everywhere which has just been announced as one of The Guardian’s Best Children’s Books of 2020 and was also featured as one of The Guardian’s Books of the Month, Children’s Best New Novels on publication in October. It is on Amnesty’s Books That Inspire Activism list, and is also after just seven weeks of being available, one of Bookriot’s Best Children’s Book of 2020. 

A. M. Dassu is Deputy Editor of SCBWI-BI’s magazine, Words & Pictures, and is a Director of Inclusive Minds, a unique organisation for people who are passionate about inclusion, diversity, equality, and accessibility in children’s literature. Previously, she has worked in project management, marketing, and editorial. Her work has been published by The Huffington Post, Times Educational Supplement, SCOOP Magazine, Lee and Low Books, and DK Books. When she isn’t battling emails or writing, she mentors aspiring authors and loves to shout about other people’s books.

You can find her on Twitter @a_reflective or Instagram @a.m.dassu.

Statement of intent: I have campaigned and written about the importance of school libraries, library cuts and closures. I am a passionate advocate of reading for pleasure and understand the implications of low levels of literacy in deprived areas due to my work in Adult Basic Education. I recently delivered workshops to 600 children across 17 schools, both primary and secondary via Zoom in one day and can help authors deliver engaging and interactive workshops.

I am keen to increase representation of children’s authors geographically (outside of London and surrounding counties) and due to my connections with established, debut and aspiring authors can bring a fresh view to the table on what sort of professional development is needed, and also look at how we can increase representation in terms of age, disability and ethnicity.