If ever a title summarised a book, this one is it. It shows in the form of a memoir how Evaristo grew up, the barriers she had to overcome, which were many, and how she did. One step at a time and just getting on with it.

Her barriers were many, being a woman, being of mixed race, growing up in a time when feminism and racism were seen differently and wanting to do something for which there were not many people like her. But she also had many advantages – a stable family with many siblings, parents who didn’t stop her from doing what she wanted to do and her own determinedness and perseverance as personal traits.

Storytellers must overcome all internal and external obstacles by prioritising commitment to ambition, hard work, craft, originality and unstoppability.

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Not only are there previous partners who are dropped or remove themselves from her life in here, there is also a clear description of becoming published as an author and friendships that last. And it is just as she says. When being asked to make numerous changes to her manuscript she wanted to put it away and not look at it but she did look at it and she did make the changes. Her writing shows clearly that her success is predicated on hard work, a lot of it, learning and growing and following her desires. There are no black female theatre directors – well set up a company yourself. There is no one writing the fusion of fiction and poetry like she is – then continue to write it. (I would actually contest this notion. There are others who write a fusion of fiction and poetry but of course, they do not write like Evaristo. They write like themselves.)

Be wild, disobedient and daring with your creativity, take risks instead of following predictable routes: those who play it safe do not advance our culture or civilisation.

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If you were just to read the manifesto it would appear to be the same ol’ words spouted about creativity as usual but it is useful to look back at Evaristo’s life and think about what she meant by being wild, what does she mean about choosing partners who support your creativity, what does it mean to pass on what we know to the next generation?

This is Evaristo’s manifesto as she has lived it and whilst there is nothing earth shattering about it or her life, it is a talk that Bernardine, with two Rs!, has walked.