Abena Eyeson

Hertfordshire resident Abena was born in Ghana but moved to the UK with her family at the age of 12.  Now married with her own children, Abena has been educated up to PhD in the UK.  At school and at university, she enjoyed acting and performing poetry. Though she pursued another career after university, her love for writing and books remained undiminished.  About six years ago, she started writing fiction and in that time has written her first novel, Looking Up and a second novel, yet to be published. 

In 2021, Abena was a Faber Children’s FAB Prize Commended Text Winner and was also longlisted for the inaugural Jericho Prize for one of her picture books.  In July 2022, she was longlisted for The Literary Consultancy (TLC) Pen Factor.  In 2022, she was also added to Oxford University Press’ (OUP) Primary Literacy list as a potential author and in January 2023, was given her first commission by the OUP for a narrative non-fiction chapter book.

Abena is now represented by the literary agent, Gill McLay of Bath Literary Agency.

The novel, Looking Up is about 13-year-old Esi who is reluctantly on her way to England. After many happy years with Grandma in Ghana, she is joining Maggie, the mother she hasn’t lived with since the age of six. Her move to London not only forces Esi to deal with challenges she’s never faced before, but it brings up questions about Solomon, her absent father, and Maggie – the answers to which in the end change her life.  

A compelling story about family, friendship, migration and overcoming challenges, Looking Up has been reviewed positively in the UK, USA and a number of African countries. The paperback is available from many online bookshops including Amazon and Bookshop org. The ebook is available from Amazon.

For further information and reviews, go to https://www.abenaeyesonwrites.com/

Twitter: @ey_abs