Who or what inspires a young girl growing up in social housing in London in the 1980s? Grace Jones, of course! Children's author Jasmine Richards still thinks her icon's star is just as outrageously bright today, which is why the 1985 album Island Life is one of Jasmine's keepsakes. Losing herself amongst the pages of books, Jasmine read her way through childhood, bucked the stats and got to where she never dreamt was possible. Being a published author isn't enough, she's now busy changing the literary landscape for children and other authors. That once bookish girl recounts her own chapters as she opens up her memorabilia box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxslhFjgano&feature=youtu.be interview with Oxford University

Black History Month top 100 [find Jasmine at number 93]

https://medium.com/oxford-university/the-oxford-bhm-100-7af54c5b2764

https://vimeo.com/29614663 Animation about Jasmine and the importance of libraries

https://www.thebookseller.com/rising-stars/2020 Bookseller rising star 2020

Author website www.jasminerichards.com

Jasmine's creative social enterprise: www.storymix.co.uk

Twitter jrichardsauthor

Instagram writeonauthor

@storymixstudio

https://www.philip-pullman.com

https://www.hayfestival.com/home

https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org

https://www.gracejones.com

https://www.walker.co.uk/contributors/Jill-Murphy-1566.aspx

https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

https://www.booktrust.org.uk

https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/rudine-sims-bishop-diverse-childrens-books/