The book fair where creativity meets the future, London Book Fair, opened its doors last March 11-13, 2025, in Olympia, London. Drawing around 30,000 attendees, this year’s London Book Fair showcased the vibrant world of publishing and creative content, marking a significant milestone in the industry. The fair not only maintained its impressive attendance figures but also celebrated a 10-percent boost in rights-center table sales compared to 2024.
Citi of Books is proud to have been part of this prestigious event, representing the incredible works of our talented authors in stand 7B94. In our assigned booth, a range of books—from fiction to nonfiction—would be on exhibit. A book included in the gallery was “Impressions: Up Close and Personal Short Stories” by Zenobia Orimoloye.
Zenobia Orimoloye was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, in the historic Black community of Morgan Park. She has since lived in several cities, including Milwaukee, Knoxville, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Austin. In 2018, she performed in the show All the Sex I’ve Ever Had, sponsored by Austin’s Fuse Box Festival. She is also honored in the Two Thousand Notable American Women publication by the American Biographical Institute.
“Impressions” is Orimoloye’s fifth book, following Passages (Up Close and Personal Short Stories), Reflections (Short Stories of Memorable Moments), Choices (Thirteen Short Stories), and Bits and Pieces (Sixteen Poems and Four Short Stories). Additionally, she has written three plays—Brothers, Deception, and The Visit. Her works have also been featured on KUT-FM, Austin’s NPR affiliate. A graduate of Loyola University, Orimoloye is a retired civil servant who now resides in Austin, Texas.
In “Impressions,” the author skillfully blends real-life experiences with fiction to explore the complexities of African American life. The stories tackle difficult and poignant subjects such as sexual abuse, death, human trafficking, ageism, love, loss, and addiction. One particularly gripping tale begins with a heartbreaking confrontation in a bar, where Orimoloye’s brother, in a drunken rage, accuses her of killing their mother. This emotional moment sets the stage for a series of powerful, thought-provoking stories.
Orimoloye’s storytelling prowess shines throughout the collection. Her writing ranges from humorous to deeply tragic, portraying the resilience of ordinary people striving for personal happiness. Through her rich, multidimensional characters, Orimoloye offers a vivid exploration of the human spirit—one that refuses to stay down, always rising for the next challenge.
Overall, “Impressions: Up Close and Personal Short Stories” is a compelling, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting book that is sure to resonate with readers seeking stories of strength, survival, and the unyielding pursuit of joy.