Paperworth Books is celebrating October with two powerful literary releases that showcase the depth and diversity of Nigerian storytelling across generations.
The publisher released the 15th anniversary edition of Tomorrow Died Yesterday by bestselling author Chimeka Garricks on October 1. This commemorative edition honours the novel’s legacy as a modern Nigerian classic 15 years after its groundbreaking debut.
The special release features a striking new cover and includes a reflective note from the author, which revisits the novel’s enduring themes of activism and redemption in the Niger Delta.
Paperworth Books calls the anniversary edition a “tribute to literary endurance”.
The second major release, which came out on October 10, is The Girl in the Picture, which marks bestselling author Amaka Azie’s debut in the Young Adult (YA) genre. Paperworth Books states that Azie’s debut “opens a new chapter in youth-centred Nigerian fiction”.
The coming-of-age novel follows 17-year-old Fechi Ajala as she navigates life in a new country after moving from Enugu, Nigeria, to Birkenhead, England. Starting over at Beacon High, she faces culture shock, loneliness and the pressure to fit in.
Fechi is drawn to a charming classmate named Max, but his mysterious cousin, Darren, warns her away, leading Fechi to become intrigued by Darren instead. The plot thickens when a “reckless, seemingly innocent text” threatens her reputation, scholarship dreams, and future at school.
With themes of identity, resilience and the pressures of adolescence, Azie’s work is a timely exploration of growing up when one moment can change everything.
Timendu Aghahowa, a bestselling author, called the book a “delightful read” with a “relatable character,” and award-winning author Empi Baryeh praised it as a “poignant YA novel” with “emotional depth”.
Both titles are now available nationwide and online.
