Overview
I am the Director of an award-winning UK-based Book PR company and Freelance Journalist. I was a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2015 and 2016, and winner of the Inspired Achievement Award at the Kent Women in Business Awards 2017. I specialise in supporting authors (and publishers) with a soft spot for indie authors. I assist with building profiles for the author, getting media coverage and reviews to build awareness about the book, and increasing sales by communicating with the intended readers of the book!
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Management
Career Guides
Children’s Non-Fiction
Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits
Health & Wellbeing
Parenting & Families
Psychology
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Picture Books
Awards
- Finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2015
Certifications
- Diploma in Public Relations
- NCTJ BA Hons Degree - Journalism
Work experience
The Author School
Apr, 2015 —
Present
The Author School is designed for anyone who has got a manuscript ready to go, or at the very least an idea burning away that just needs to be written. You may already be a published author and in need of some inspiration to revive sales, or perhaps you’re considering self-publishing your next book but have no idea where to turn?
The Author School has been created (and supported by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin StartUps) to provide answers in the maze of information available for writers.
We also want to support and encourage the next generation of writers, and as co-founder A. Bello started writing so young, we feel it is important for us to continue this legacy. As such, there is a 25% discount for under 25s on all classes at The Author School.
The first day of classes is scheduled for September 26th 2015 in London. You can cherry pick which of the five classes are right for you, or join us for the full day including lunch and really get stuck in!
Not only do you get access to author Abiola Bello's experience and lessons learned, but Helen Lewis' 15 years-plus experience in the world of publishing, publicity, PR and journalism, AND a series of expert speakers! It's going to be the start of a refreshing new approach to publishing - putting the author first!
PR Agency
Mar, 2012 —
Present
When I’m not reading five books at a time, reviewing new Champagne-flavoured popcorn or travelling to book fairs around the world, I am running around after my two little girls. Life is busy, but I like it that way. I am the Director of a publicity agency with a refreshing approach to book, drinks and food PR. My PR Agency is a team of experts who enjoy devising specialist and successful communications activity for a host of people, from literary agents to publishers, New York Times best-selling authors to debut novelists. From writing press releases to managing media enquiries, chatting with the national newspapers and regional press to bloggers and broadcast, we're a boutique agency that specialises in creating bespoke, strategic campaigns that won’t have you re-mortgaging your house to pay a ridiculous yearlong retainer fee.
I am also an NCTJ-qualified food, drink and packaging journalist with 15 years experience under my belt, and as I don't think there's any such thing as being 'too busy' I'm also the founder and editor of the long-standing, highly respected resource food&drink towers ( Since 2006, the site has continued to connect journalists, PRs, retailers, brand owners and everyone in between within the foodie world. We have 5000+ members and continue to grow each year.
In 2012, I opened my book PR business and by 2013 it had evolved into my PR Agency, bringing the book, drinks and food PR divisions under one umbrella. I have written more than 50 market, category and trends reports for corporate multinationals as well as B2B publishing houses including Datamonitor, Aroq and Business Monitor International since 2004. I still regularly freelance for various magazines on and offline.
My passions are food, drink, writing, reading, discovering talented new authors, inspiring technologies and delicious products, while working with passionate, happy people.
Various magazines and publications (online and print)
Nov, 2004 —
Present
For many years I've contributed editorial in the form of reviews, opinion pieces, features and news to a wide variety of publications, primarily focusing on food, drink and packaging.
Reuters Business Insight
Sep, 2001 —
Nov, 2004
(about 3 years)
Management of the consumer goods publishing division including commissioning external and internal writers, researching and editing, creating new product ideas and writing B2B reports.
Portfolio
Two families reunite for a feast on Eid ul-Fitr, the day Muslims celebrate the end of the month of fasting. And boys who grew up together will meet again, as men. As the big day approaches two of the men go to the mosque, one leaves his girlfriend and another ... read more
Winner of the Virginia Prize for FictionAs small children, Rudyard Kipling and his sister Trix lived an enchanted life in India playing with their beloved servants and running around freely. Their innocent happiness came to an abrupt end when they were sent ba... read more
Malaysian Jasmine Lian is a partner in a prestigious law firm in London. One of her clients bids for the grandest project in Asia—a complete town and university campus in the Malaysian rainforest—and wants to win the contract by any means necessary. Jasmine mu... read more
Taking in many different perspectives, this book sheds light on the many aspects of postnatal depression in fathers - an unknown subject to many people. It includes a review of recent studies and research in this area, investigating the reasons behind male pos... read more
Emily Knight I AM . . . is about a thirteen year old warrior named Emily, who is far from ordinary and she hates it. She's the daughter of a heroic warrior and the press's favourite problem child. Against her wishes she is sent to the Osaki Training School to ... read more
Are you child-free, or do you have one, two or more adorable mini-mes? Are you in your first committed relationship, or third-time lucky? Be it two or forty-two years together, there's a lot to discover from Date Night... In her new book, The Date Night Manife... read more
"A timeless fable about love and courage, well-told and beautifully illustrated." Kirkus Review Buckan, a brave young stag, embarks on a journey to find a mythical garden in order to gain the strength to save his fellow deer from the attacking wolves. The jour... read more
As heard on BBC Radio 4's Book at BedtimeThe year is 1985. East Germany is in the grip of communism. Magda, a brilliant but disillusioned young linguist, is desperate to flee to the West. When a black market deal brings her into contact with Robert, a young Sc... read more
A collection of eight short stories, in which Lewis explores the human condition from youth to maturity via extraordinary characters, albeit ordinary people, who pass from spring to summer, from innocence to exuberance. And when autumn comes, they mature and p... read more
Reconnecting with the Heart offers a new theoretical and practical approach to understanding and managing feelings. We categorise feelings as either negative or positive, which means that we censor the expression of some while insisting on others. Learning to ... read more
Sarah and her classmates go on a class trip to the City of Moon. It is a beautiful city watered by springs and surrounded by gardens, however Sarah wanders off and gets lost from her classmates. Will Sarah find her way back? Will her teacher find her? Find out... read more
"Winner of the M.M. Bennett Award for Historical Fiction, announced in June 2015". 'LUSITANIA R.E.X' is an historical account of the sinking of the Lusitania replete with spies and secret societies, super weapons, millionaires and martyrs. After being struck b... read more
Strange situations, unsolvable problems, secret lives, redemption and revenge. Who are the people behind the names? Frankie, Pavel, Willard, Esmeralda, Milo, Shannon ... these are just some of the stories in The Book of Names. There's a benevolent locksmith wi... read more
Like any dutiful Scottish daughter, Libby Stewart puts her family first. She’s spent months helping her brother, a single father, care for his new daughter. The strain of her family commitments led to the painful demise of a two-year relationship. As Libby nur... read more
This Arabic and English book goes through the Prophet's (blessings and peace be upon him) Hijrah route in detail identifying landmarks and locations of where verses of the Qur'an were revealed. Using metallic inks and hand drawn maps it is tried to make this b... read more
Heart of Relating invites you to take part in the growing movement towards communicating beyond your ego and persona, by learning the art of relating from the heart of who you are. Based on Eckhart Tolle's words - "If you get the inside right, the outside will... read more
Alex Kelburn doesn't just believe in life after death he knows it to be real. A charismatic psychic medium, he works hard to bring comfort to the bereaved. But when his world is devastated by tragedy, the aftershocks lead him to a heartbreaking choice. Either ... read more
A challenging, brutally honest novel from an acclaimed actor John is an actor. He is a man. A man who wants. A man who needs. A man who takes. And he takes from those who always expect him to give. To give them love, loyalty, affection—to give them his soul an... read more
Our life can be challenging. Is there time for a successful career AND those we love? We are driven by our successes, but often the most important moments are those we create with each other. We all strive to get more from life, but can struggle to find a posi... read more
A rags to riches story, chronicled initially through the eyes of a child born into war-torn Britain who refused to accept that the lackluster life she knew would be all she could possibly expect. The escape route was via Canada, where the impossible seemed pos... read more
Bob and Richard were part of the one generation of lower class provincials in England ever to get a real shout. Grammar school boys from Lancashire, they'd shared in the great flowering of working class culture from the late fifties to the mid sixties, before ... read more
An inspirational book about all things love. A self-help book that teaches you to live with gratitude, entwined with your own goodness. Expand your inner awareness, melt away stress and anxiety, strengthen your intuition and become a magnet for happiness and p... read more
This light-hearted collection of memoirs tells the compelling story of a company executive who walked away from global corporations and immersed himself in the world of non-profit - in this case, the WWF, one of the world's largest conservation organisations.
An addictive concoction of evocative mysticism and gritty fantasy
The Studio is a unique and exciting work, referencing Freud and other psychoanalytic heavyweights to examine a difficult past, where loss, trauma, and the complexities of life are addressed and explored. Each chapter takes a painting as its focus, holding it u... read more
“Why is it that, 100,000 years ago, our ancestors started removing hair from their faces and bodies, using stone tweezers and shells? Why did gays adopt the beard as a sign of liberation in the 1970s? And why is everyone wearing beards again today, from Taliba... read more
“Does it wet the bed?” tells the honest and encouraging story of my life, living with Cerebral Palsy. The story details my struggles and triumphs, my hopes and fears, offering the reader a totally unique and personal insight into what it’s like to be disabled.... read more
A magical story about a gifted, vulnerable girl who is both saved and damned by an angel who falls in love with her music and claims it in a devilish pact. With Mary in his thrall, he ruthlessly kills all those who threaten his grand plan to bring Mary to Carn... read more
Tempt little taste buds early on with exciting aromatic flavours and avoid a fussy eater from emerging. With Easy Indian SuperMeals for babies, toddlers and the family, you can do just that by preparing simple yet delicious, nutrient-rich meals tailored for a ... read more
This is the opposite of a self-help book. From humorist and story-teller Dylan Brody comes a masterful parody of the self-help book, promising not to help you out of your depression, but rather to sink you deeper into it. Mr. Brody promises to help you commit ... read more
What happens when a mother says she is 'fine' but really she is not? Post-natal depression (PND), an illness which affects four in ten new mothers, is still stigmatised, and devastatingly misunderstood. In Fine (not Fine), Bridget Hargreave charts her own expe... read more
Helen has 1 review
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Sarah Mathilde C.
Oct, 2016
