Born in Nigeria, Chioma Okereke grew up in London and studied law at UCL. She started her writing career as a performance poet before turning her hand to prose. Her debut novel, Bitter Leaf (Virago), was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and her short story, Trompette De La Mort, received First Runner Up of the inaugural Costa Short Story Award. Her upcoming novel Water Baby (Quercus, April 2024) is a coming-of-age story set in the real settlement of Makoko, Lagos, and Chioma is also the founder of Makoko Pearls, an organisation set up to benefit the inhabitants of the community. She divides her time between the bustle of London, the hustle of Lagos, and the rustle of rural France. Follow her on X, Instagram, Facebook and sign up to her newsletter at chiomaokereke.com.