An advocate for diversity
Hi Magazine|Series 19 Volume 4 - 2021
TV AND FILM PRODUCER, HIP-HOP ARTISTE, TV TRAVEL SHOW HOST AND CHILDREN’S AUTHOR RUBY LOVELL USES HER OWN CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES OF DIFFICULTIES IN ASSIMILATING TO BECOME A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE WITH HER COLLECTION OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THE UK
Tina Edward
An advocate for diversity

Inspired by her experiences of her early childhood in Sri Lanka, diplomat’s daughter Ruby Lovell spent her time crisscrossing the world to wherever her father’s posting took her. Settling down in London where her father worked at the Sri Lankan High Commission, Ruby realised that there was a dearth of characters of colour in the children’s books she read. When she became a mother herself and started reading books to her own children, she realised that there was a severe lack of diversity in children’s literature. This spurred her to begin writing her own collection of children’s books which are doing exceedingly well across the UK. Ruby who has also worked as a TV presenter is currently working on a new travel series for British television. Her third book will be published later this year.

What swayed you to start writing children’s fiction?

From a young age I always had a passion for reading and storytelling. I remember my grandmother’s bedtime stories and how interesting and captivating they were. Later when I arrived in the UK and began to read children’s books, I noticed that there were no characters that looked like me nor from any other cultures.

All the characters were white. There was absolutely no diversity in these books. However this is not the reality of the classroom in a school nor the world we live in. This is why I was driven to bring the reality we live into children’s books and celebrate my culture, Sri Lankan culture. By doing so, I would educate and expose my culture and Sri Lanka to the world.

In a nutshell what is the theme of your book?

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An advocate for diversity
Hi Magazine

An advocate for diversity

TV AND FILM PRODUCER, HIP-HOP ARTISTE, TV TRAVEL SHOW HOST AND CHILDREN’S AUTHOR RUBY LOVELL USES HER OWN CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES OF DIFFICULTIES IN ASSIMILATING TO BECOME A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE WITH HER COLLECTION OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THE UK

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Series 19 Volume 4 - 2021
Champion diver
Hi Magazine

Champion diver

YASHODA DE SILVA IS SRI LANKA’S UNDISPUTED DIVING CHAMPION. WITH HER EYES SET ON WINNING MORE MEDALS YASHODA REMAINS STEADFAST IN HER TRAINING REGIMENT IN AUSTRALIA

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Series 19 Volume 4 - 2021
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Hi Magazine

CREATING A vibe FOR THE fashion tribe

KARMA COLLECTION FOUNDERS SEEMA MOCERI AND TIVON PRASAD REVEAL THEIR FASHION PLANS

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Series 19 Volume 4 - 2021
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Hi Magazine

The Lady sings the blues

HAVING SUNG FOR THE QUEEN AT THE MILLENNIUM COUNTDOWN IN LONDON, AND PERFORMED WITH THE LIKES OF SIR VAN MORRISON, JAMIE CULLUM AND BURT BACHARACH, DOCTOR TURNED MUSICIAN SUMUDU JAYATILAKA HAS JUST RELEASED HER NEW ALBUM ‘FOR ALL WE KNOW’

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Hi Magazine

World Traveller

AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER NITIN SAWHNEY COMBINES ASIAN AND OTHER WORLDWIDE INFLUENCES WITH ELEMENTS OF JAZZ AND ELECTRONIC TO CREATE SUBLIMINAL MUSIC. HE HAS JUST CONCLUDED ‘JOURNEYS’, A CONCERT AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL TO CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF IMMIGRATION. SAWHNEY EXPLORES THEMES OF MULTICULTURALISM, POLITICS AND SPIRITUALITY THROUGH HIS MUSIC. HE HAS RELEASED HIS NEW ALBUM ‘IMMIGRANTS’.

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Hi Magazine

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World Traveller
Hi Magazine

World Traveller

BROADCASTER AND JOURNALIST, MARIELLA FROSTRUP HAS HAD HER FINGER ON THE CULTURAL PULSE OF BRITAIN FOR THE LAST THIRTY YEARS. FROM BEING A BBC RADIO 4 PRESENTER AND SKY BOOK SHOW HOST TO A BOOKER PRIZE JUDGE AND MOTHER OF TWO, MARIELLA FROSTRUP TAKES THE HOTSEAT AS OUR WORLD TRAVELLER

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Hi Magazine

The Billionaire

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Hi Magazine

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Hi Magazine

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Classical singer and musician unleashing her dulcet tones.

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Series 15 Volume 5 2017