Wild East

A powerful story of resilience, friendship, discovery and growth…Ashley has that rare ability to draw you in quietly and leave you feeling totally invested. I’m certain that if I had this when I was younger it would have changed my life, genuinely * Jeffrey Boakye, author of Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer *
I loved the way you name checked other writers and the power of their words…Most of all, I loved Ronny. I loved Ronny’s kindness, vulnerability, empathy, tenacity and open-heartedness * Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy *
For reluctant readers in need of a gentle route towards poetry…heartfelt and up-to-the-minute…A reminder that even short lines can take you a long way * The Sunday Times *
A book meant to be heard…It’s the fresh, “spoken word” style that makes Ronny’s story special * The Times *
This empowering verse novel announces the arrival of an exciting new talent in YA fiction * Waterstones.com *
Loved this book. Raw, moving, and so accessible. A powerful spoken-word style verse novel * Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of How To Be Extraordinary *
A cocktail of prose, poetry and creative writing that welcomes all types of readers…Hickson-Lovence has crafted a superb piece * DD Armstrong, author of Ugly Dogs Don’t Cry *
Compelling coming-of-age story inspired by the author’s own experiences * The Bookseller *
An astonishing and emotional story…an amazing tale of self-reflection, acceptance, and achieving your greatest aspirations * screenrant.com *
A positive, uplifting tale that will inspire future word-smiths and those who dare to dream of better things to come * schoolreadinglist.co.uk *

Ashley Hickson-Lovence is a novelist, poet, literary critic, and Lecturer of Creative Writing.

Wild East was his first multi-award-winning YA verse-novel. It was partly inspired by his time as a secondary school English teacher, his own move from London to Norwich, tutoring a group of asylum seekers at an Arvon retreat, and his love of British hip hop.

Ashley has also written three adult novels: The 392, Your Show (longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize and shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards), and About To Fall Apart.

His poetry collection Why I Am Not a Bus Driver has been shortlisted for the Jhalak Poetry Prize and includes the poem ‘Munster Road’, which was highly commended for Best Single Poem at the Forward Prize.

He holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of East Anglia and was nominated for the Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Literature in 2023.

His second YA verse-novel, Dead Ends, will publish in 2027.

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