VALERIE BRANDES
Publisher
“I’m a Hackney girl!” is a phrase Valerie Brandes returns to with pride. Founder and CEO of independent publishing house Jacaranda Books, Brandes’ approach to publishing has been shaped by her upbringing in Stoke Newington.
Brandes’ childhood experiences of community and belonging would go on to fuel her pursuit of a career in publishing and her commitment to creating space for writers from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
Why Hackney Matters?
The second youngest of eleven children, she grew up in a strict and disciplined household, surrounded by a vibrant mix of cultures and communities. Valerie’s upbringing in Stoke Newington shaped her understanding of culture, difference and community, growing up alongside Turkish, Greek Cypriot, English, Barbadian and Irish families. She describes Hackney as a working-class community where different cultures lived alongside one another, an experience that stayed with her throughout her life and career. This connection has also come full circle through her work with Hackney-raised authors Stephen Thompson and Irenosen Okojie, allowing her to support writers from the same community that shaped her own outlook.
Did You Know?
Before founding Jacaranda Books, Valerie Brandes spent nearly 20 years living in California, where she worked as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble and became involved in a writers’ community. She later returned to the UK, completed a Master’s in Publishing Studies and went on to establish Jacaranda Books.