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Activist and author Rachel Cargle’s début memoir will be published by Bodley Head later this month backed by a major marketing and publicity campaign.
UK and Commonwealth rights were acquired by former Square Peg commissioning editor Mireille Harper from Victoria Hobbs at AM Heath.
Marianne Tatepo, publishing director at Square Peg, will publish A Renaissance of Our Own through Bodley Head alongside publishing director Stuart Williams, on 25th May 2023. In the US it will be published by Chelcee Johns, senior editor at Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House US on 16th May.
Marketing and publicity activity includes an appearance of Cargle in Elizabeth Day’s “How to Fail” podcast, which will be released in early June. Fane will be hosting an online launch event, where Rachel will be in conversation with anti-racist platform Everyday Racism co-founder and author Naomi Evans.
As well as promoting the book to Cargle’s 1.7 million social media followers, Vintage is working with a selection of inclusive bookshops across the UK to promote the book in store and is working with agency Media Hive in ensuring majority representation of those who identify as black or minority ethnic or LGBTQ+ among the UK online influencers receiving copies of the book.
“Rachel Cargle’s highly lauded modern voice in feminism and racial justice comes as a deeply personal and insightful testament to the power of reimagining to dismantle the frameworks and systems that no longer serve us while building new ones that do,” Bodley Head said of the début memoir.
The publisher added: “In A Renaissance of Our Own, we witness the sometimes painful but always inspiring breaking points in Cargle’s life that fostered a truer identity. These defining moments offer a blueprint for how we must all use our imagination – the space that sees beyond limits – to live in alignment with our highest values and to craft a world independent of oppressive structures, both personal and societal.
“Cargle now invites you to acknowledge ways of being that stem from societal expectations instead of your personal truth, and to embark on a renaissance of your own. She provides the very tools and prompts that she used to unearth her own truth, tools that opened her up to being a more authentic feminist and purpose-driven matriarchal leader.”
Cargle said: “I’m looking forward to the way this book may continue to build community and conversation around values, intentions, healing and growth. I’m looking forward to our collective growth, our collective groundedness, our collective renaissance happening on the pages. Having A Renaissance of Our Own published in the UK is such a special opportunity to open up this hearty dialogue to even more thoughtful readers.”
Tatepo said: “What a privilege to be working with a revered community builder and thinker like Rachel – we are thrilled to be publishing this healing manifesto on redefining your personal values. Bringing Rachel’s distinct vision to the page with Chelcee Johns at Ballantine Books [senior editor at PRH US] has been so special.
“Her ability to mine from her most intimate experiences and learnings to create a holistic, universal personal framework is inspiring. Whether, like her, readers are from a working-class background, uncovering their queerness, confronting their faith and relationship dynamics, redefining how they work and rest, or simply grappling with their place in the world, she’s gifted her community of millions and all of us a beautiful narrative and powerful method for embracing the most authentic – not best – version of yourself.”
Cargle is an activist, entrepreneur and philanthropic innovator. She is the founder of the Loveland Group, a family of companies (including Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre, which is a literary space that celebrates marginalised voices) and the Great Unlearn, an adult learning platform for teaching of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) thinkers. She also founded the Loveland Foundation, offering free access to mental healthcare for Black women and girls and is regularly featured in various publications including the Cut, New York Times and New Yorker.