Welcome to #BookChat The Insider Series!
We'll be discussing all things publishing
- why your submission was turned down
- how to get an agent
- the responsibilities of an author that no one talks about
- why your marketing and publicity is different from the next authors
- trends and what to do and not do
- how to make writing a full time job
and more!
Bring all your questions!
4th June 7pm online. Tickets available via link in bio or Eventbrite
#publishing
#writing
#books
#bookstagram
A messsage from co-founder @abiolabello
Ten years of celebrating diversity and debuts all from a tiny but award-winning publishing house. Tomorrow we celebrate but we want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us over the years!
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#hashtagpress
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#debut
#diversebooks
Happy New Year! And this year we turn TEN YEARS OLD 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you to everyone for all the support over this very up and down decade! Indies are so important to publishing and we are so thankful for all the debuts and diverse books we have been able to publish!
Lots of ten year content throughout 2026 to celebrate and yes we will be having a party!
#Hashtag10
#diversebooks
#bookstagram
Venessa Taylor, author of the Baller Boys series attended the Club Author Day at Chelsea Football Club!
She got to speak too many young readers about football, books and the importance of reading as part of the Premier League Primary Stars education programme.
Thank you National Literacy Trust, the Chelsea Foundation and the Premier League Foundation for organising a brilliant day!
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#BallerBoys
#chelseafc
#bookrecommendations
#football
#footballbooks
I love this trend and after I saw @hafsalodi ‘s hilarious post for her new book Turbulence I had to do it for Hijab and Red Lipstick. Thanks Hafsa for helping me out with some of the Gen-Z language! Which one of these is your favourite?
#genzmarketing #bookmarketing #genz #books #bookstagram
AD/PR Book Review: Hijab and Red Lipstick by Yousra Imran. Thank you to the author, publisher and Literally PR for the gifted second edition copy of this book. Please see the comments for the synopsis.
Sometimes chance moments can change you in some way. Maybe you were in the right place at the right time to see a stunning asteroid shower. Or you’ve actually been at the end of a rainbow. Being able to pick up Hijab and Red Lipstick is that chance moment for me.
You see, it’s not my usual genre. Scroll through my posts and you’ll see a concoction of the weird and wonderful. But this… this has truly opened my eyes. I read it with shock, anger, fear at the experiences of girls and women under Guardianship laws amongst the strict Muslim men who choose to twist a religion to bully, scare, beat, and even kill those who don’t conform. But I also learned about the positive side to this religion which can so often be misunderstood by westerners like myself.
I adored the character of Sara and her courage to carve out her own life. The novel is based on partial autobiographical experiences and those shared with Yousra Iman from others to create the story. I am truly grateful to the author for educating me about the customs, traditions and rules that women live with in this culture. I never truly understood the fear and terrible reality of being beaten or killed for bringing “shame” on the family by doing things considered haram. And I am in awe of any girl or woman who survives this.
I loved this book, despite it being a difficult read in parts, because I truly believe it has changed me. And I hope, one day, it will go some way to help change the experiences of Muslim women under duress and coercion. Don’t let the heavy topics put you off - it’s inspirational and I think you’ll find yourself cheering for Sara as she goes on her journey of self-enlightenment.
It can only be a full ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating from me, with a wholehearted recommendation to read this honestly written book.
#HijabandRedLipstick
#HashtagPress
#LiterallyPR
#FiveStarRead
#BookReviewers
📚 Book review 📚
Thank you to LiterallyPR and the author for a free physical copy in return for an honest review.
Book details: In comments
Review:
📆 single timeline.
👀 single POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "'You're going to be OK. You're strong' I l said to myself."
I really love the cover on this book, in a way the picture reminds me of the cover on The Handmaid's Tale, which is no surprise as the subject matter is similar in some ways. I also really appreciated the glossary of Arabic terms at the back of the book. There were a few words that I knew, but many that I didn't.
It's important to note that this book is not a reflection on Islam, but on a society misaligning it's values in the name of religion. It is my understanding that Islam is a very peaceful religion, where women are revered and protected, though the western media would have you believe otherwise. And whilst this is a work of fiction, it is closely based on Imran's life. It deals with some sensitive topics, so although Amazon have it listed as suitable for ages 13-18, I personally feel that 16+ is more appropriate.
The writing was an easy to read, first person narrative set mainly in the past with the occasional "now" chapter. This really worked as a writing style; and along with the short chapters made it easy to read despite the sometimes difficult subject. At times I forgot that this is a work of fiction and was totally absorbed in the story.
I found the plot to be a really interesting look at culture, and how men use religion as an excuse. It also showed how even within such a strict society, the same worries and issues affect young women
eg "why isn't he texting me back?" or deciding "how far" you should go with a date. I wonder if the strictness actually made Sara more nieve than if she had been raised in the UK.
Overall I found this a really enjoyable read (but be aware of the subject matter which is detailed in the author's note before reading). I was surprised to read that this is Imran's first book as the story was so complete and well written.
Blurb: In comments
#Ad #BookReviewer #FreeReview #HonestReview #HijabAndRedLipstick
When Haigh, Cherry and Sunrise track down a missing chihuahua to an abandoned theme park, they discover a corpse strangled by his own camera.
No One Keeps a Secret by @denisebrownuk is out now in paperback and ebook
📸 @_kayslibrary
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#NoOneKeepsASecret
#DeniseBrown
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#yathriller
#bookrecommendations
💔 conditional love leaves permanent scars…
Sara’s words remind us that silence can hurt as much as rejection. From Hijab and Red Lipstick by Yousra Imran @writereadeatrepeat this moment captures the clash between tradition, identity, and the human need for love.
Share your thoughts below: Have you ever felt the pressure of living up to someone else’s vision?
#hijabandredlipstick #yousraimran #arabwomenstories #loveandidentity #wereadthattoo @hashtag_press
The first time we read Jessica Taylor-Bearman's debut A Girl Behind Dark Glasses we had never heard of M.E.
We loved her story and needed everyone to read it. Over five years we published three books.
Now we have a number 1 bestselling trilogy that follows Jessica as a teenager in hospital to a mother and wife. A Girl Beyond Closed Doors is the last book but there is so much more to Jessica's amazing jorney.
This series is one of those books that stay with you forever.
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#Hashtag10
#ADecadeOfImpact
#agirlbeyondcloseddoors
#AGirlBehindDarkGlasses
#disabilityawareness
Last week, we had an amazing time celebrating our 10th birthday! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us. It was a beautiful evening with so much love in the room and we are so thankful.
Cheers to more years of Hashtag 🥂
Love Helen, Abiola and Pauline ❤️
#hashtagpress
#Hashtag10
#diversebooks
'I loves this book, I read it one sitting and didn't realise it had gone dark by the time I'd finished' @thecandidbookclub
Hijab and Red Lipstick by Yousra Imran is out now in paperback and ebook
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#HijabandRedLipstick
#yabooks
#diversebooks
#bookrecommendations
#hashtagpress
