Books changed my life, says Queen's first reading hero

Books changed my life, says Queen's first reading hero41 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleIan JonesSelina Brown said her award represented everyone who supported her work and the festivalYvonne Brissettin BirminghamSelina Brown poured over books as a child, enthralled at the wonders leaping from the pages.Now, as a mother of three and founder of the Black British Book Festival, she has been named the UK's first National Reading Hero by Queen Camilla, who gave her the inaugural Queen's Reading Room Medal."As a young black girl growing up in Britain, I found possibility in stories long before I saw it in the world around me," she told the BBC. "Books changed my life before I ever changed anyone else's."The author, who is based in Birmingham, founded the festival in 2021. It started out as a small grassroots event held at the Legacy Centre in Newtown, Birmingham. The festival became so popular that it is now held at The Barbican in London and is recognised as Europe's largest celebration of black literature, reaching more than 100,000 people and supporting hundreds of black British authors.Black British Book FestivalBrown founded the Black British Book Festival in 2021The award was presented by the Queen at a reception in March, with the medal celebrating individuals in their communities who champion books and literature and who help others to make room for reading and storytelling. Guests in attendance included the actress Sigourney Weaver and the poet and novelist Sir Ben Okri."It was dreamy to be in the King and Queen's living room," Brown said. "Queen Camilla told me that she loves the work that I'm doing and was so happy to present me with the award. "When I spoke to the King, I asked him if he'd been reading, and he said 'yes, when I get time'. Just to have those conversations was amazing."Black British Book FestivalThe festival has relocated to LondonThrou...