"I love you more than Sam loves Frodo": Goodbye from Onjali Q. Raúf

Published on: 31 August 2021

Over the last six months, we've loved having author Onjali Q. Raúf as Writer in Residence to share her thoughts and literary inspirations across issues from human rights to the environment. In her final blog, she shares what she's loved about the role - and what's coming next. We'll miss you Onjali!

“Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship…”
- J.R.R. Tolkien

Well, my time as Writer-In-Residence has come to an end - how quickly that flew by! And what a deep joy it has been!

From getting to speak with WWF’s first female CEO Tanya Steele about her favourite children’s books linked to the natural world and stopping climate change, and meeting the brilliant Ewa Jozefkowicz to discuss child food poverty in literature, to getting to highlight books which might help our little ones understand some of the gravest issues of our day - from tackling racism in football to the current refugee crisis in Afghanistan… All of it, every word and syllable, has been such an honour to construct.

My deepest congratulations to the lucky soul who is set to be the next BookTrust Writer-in-Residence and join the BookTrust Fellowship: I hand over the keys to this immense palace of kindred spirits with great hope that you will feel as at home and as loved as I have. And that through your own experiences and explorations and quests, you will help our children delve into the literary universe a little deeper, and in your own unique way.

Before I go, a word to all the kind hearts who have accepted me and my worlds so beautifully, both within all the BookTrust teams and beyond: thank you.

And yes.

I do love you more than Sam loves Frodo. And that really is saying something in this bookish Middle Earth of ours.

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Keep your eyes peeled for new Writer in Residence news very soon...