We speak exclusively to author extraordinaire HM Naqvi…

Q. Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you launched into a writing career?
I had always been surrounded by books and writing. Grandpa, dad, some aunts and uncles all lawyers were all involved in writing and editing Law Journals in India so from birth books were part of my upbringing. I used to write for fun when I worked full time as a teacher and did a Saturday morning leisure class on writing as a hobby. When I took early retirement from my post as Principal Teacher I …

On the release of her recent novel, Perfectly Untraditional, The Asian Writer caught up with author and poet Sweta Vikram

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into the world of writing?
I was born in London and lived in Birmingham for many years before moving to India. I now live in Manchester. The best thing I have done is spending two years running a small guest house Seclude, in the mountains in Himachal Pradesh in India.  I always wanted to write, when I was nine I wrote a long story about a penguin and a tiger in a zoo, who run away together – my teacher wrote in my …

“The greatest homage you can pay the artists you admire is to find your own palette, of colours that cast new lights and new shadows on your chosen genre.”

Q. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your book, West of no East?
West of No East is my first published novel. Previously, I’ve been published by Tindal Street Press, Wasafiri, and Aesthetica Magazine. I live in east London, where I also manage a small indie publisher, Limehouse Books and work as a part-time consultant for Booktrust / Diversity in Publishing Network.

Q. What inspired you to write a love story with protest at its heart?
I wanted to write a story that was as fresh and relevant as it …

The Asian Writer meets author of Unimagined, Imran Ahmad as he talks candidly about his memoir, memories and Muslims.

Q. Who are you and what are you best known for?
I’m Anita Shah, known for a number of things in the legal and corporate world (I am a qualified solicitor) but probably most notorious for my participation on The Apprentice back in 2009. I call it a guest appearance as I was the first fired candidate of the series, but it hasn’t stopped me succeeding, including being the only candidate from my year to write for a national newspaper. I contribute to my local BBC radio station and I am …

Investigative journalist and author, Zaiba Malik talks to The Asian Writer about her memoir, We are a Muslim, Please.

Q. If the story of your life was turned into a play what would the title of that play be, and what would be the hook?
I don’t take myself that seriously so I’ll give you a tongue-in –cheek one.
“Larger than Life” …a plus size guide to conquering the world.
Q. How did you get involved in theatre and what made you stay?
Growing up in Malaysia and then going to school in neighboring Singapore carrying my passport everyday I was very aware of being an outsider all my life. You tend …