Creative Writing alumna’s unconventional road to becoming a published author

A Birmingham City University alumna is making her mark in the literary world with the publication of her first young adult novel. 

Siren Knight, who graduated from BCU with an MA in Creative Writing, is releasing Princess (Apparently) on Thursday 13 August. To celebrate, she is hosting a live reading, Q&A session and book signing at Waterstone’s Wolverhampton on the same evening.  

The novel centres around Della, a mixed-race teenager feeling out of place in an upper-crust London school. After a video of her protesting goes viral, Della receives a royal invitation to a Caribbean island and finds herself ensnared in a love triangle with her best friend.  

“Inspiration came from a Haitian portrait of King Henry’s children, which depicts a Black prince and two Black princesses. This opened the dialogue on what a modern Black royal family would look like,” Siren explains. “It made me think of the stately homes I’d visit as a child, where no people of colour ever graced the paintings and pictures on the walls. 

“Plus, when I was growing up, I never once read a book that had a mixed-race protagonist. I’m really interested in ensuring the diversity I didn’t see in the books I read growing up is present today.” 

Still without an agent, Siren’s road to being published is an unconventional one, beginning on an American e-zine and ending at a literary festival in Bologna, Italy. 

“I was head hunted by a packager called Storymix, who saw my writing online,” Siren explains. “We then came up with a teen novel concept that was then sold at the festival and was snapped up by Usborne, an independent publisher.” 

Many creative writing students and practitioners share the ultimate dream of seeing their work published, and Siren says it’s important to be visible.  

“Always have your work on display somewhere or somehow,” she explains. “I was first noticed because I had my writing pinned to the top of my Twitter (now X) page. I also entered competitions and made sure that my work was constantly getting placed in front of publishers and agents. 

“Secondly, network. I met my editor and Storymix family by attending the Black British Book Festival, where I wasn’t afraid to go and speak to people. I went home, found them on social media and connected with them. 

“There are hundreds of writing events that take place within the UK, so don’t be afraid to go to those events and speak to people.”  

Like her journey to become a published author, Siren’s road to studying at BCU was also a less travelled one.  

“I don’t have an undergraduate degree,” she says. “Rather, I was attending a creative writing course at college which I felt I had outgrown. The other attendees were dreaming of penning a first draft while I was already on my third unpublished novel. I was craving more guidance, to be pushed further and to study the craft more deeply.” 

After a strong reference from her tutor, she secured an interview for the MA Creative Writing course and Siren has never looked back. 

“The MA at BCU was by far one of the best times of my life,” she enthuses. “I remember feeling like I’d just stepped into a world that I didn’t know would ever be open to me. It inspired me to become a teacher myself.” 

Princess (Apparently) is released through Usborne on Thursday 13th August. You can purchase it online.