Meet team Jacaranda | Niki Igbaroola, Campaigns Manager

1.) Who are you and how long have you been at Jacaranda Books?

I am Niki, and I am the Campaigns Manager here. I work very closely on sales, events and social media, overseeing how, where and to whom our books, authors and publishing house are introduced and talked about.

2.) What drew you to the publishing industry?

I have always been a reader, in fact I started speaking and asking questions so early, my parents got me a tutor in Nursery school to keep up with my reading, and I had to skip a grade because I was reading ahead of my peers. I didn't think that I would end up in the Publishing industry, I always thought of reading as a pleasure activity, and not a career, but once I left University, I kept being pulled into the industry in a freelance capacity, slowly, but surely, what was a secondary career path has become primary.

3.) What is your favourite part of your job?

My favourite part of my job is seeing the finished book at the end of the editorial and production process. So much effort, time and care go into each of our books and it is a really good feeling to get that fresh new copy into the hands of the author and other readers.

4.) Jacaranda book’s motto is ‘bigger than books’ and part of that is our clear love for music - what does your current playlist sound like? 

1.)  Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton

2.)  As - Stevie Wonder

3.)  Emotions - Mariah Carey

4.)  So Emotional - Whitney Houston

5.)  Sula - Jamila Woods

6.)  Evergreen - Yebba

7.). Genesis - Mnelia

8.). SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY - Amaarae, Moily
 
9.)  By You - Simi, Adekunle Gold

10.) Schoolin' Life - Beyoncé

5.) A book opener that you cannot get out of your head is?

“Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. 
That is the life of men.
Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly.”  

 - Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

6.) The author of your lifetime is?

Toni Morrison, she gave us Jazz and Sula

7.) Your Jacaranda Holiday reading list look like? 

I’m really looking forward to revisiting the following:

  1. Praise Song for the Butterflies - Bernice F McFadden

  2. Ghost Season - Fatin Abbas

  3. Hadriana in All my Dreams - René Depestre