Books

A new poetry project hoping to amplify and celebrate the best of South Asian poetry from all over the world has launched its anthology. Third Space, curated by award-winning artist and poet, Suman Gujral, and funded by Arts Council England, features fifty poets from all over the world. Published by Renard Press, the collection brings …

by Leila Rasheed Are you an aspiring children’s or young adult fiction writer? Could a year focused on completing a novel, with 1-1 mentoring, workshops and connections to agents and publishers, transform your writing life? If you think so, The Megaphone Writer Development scheme could be for you. I launched the scheme in 2016 because, …

by Saarah Ismail Growing up my bookshelves were filled with the likes of Jaqueline Wilson, Roald Dahl, Michael Morpurgo and John Green. It never once occurred to me that there was and should be a place for the names of people like me on the cover. The first time I came across a book by …

by Fatima Jaffry For South Asian Heritage Month immerse yourself in a literary journey of love. From romance to friendship, these books will leave you warm and fuzzy. So, grab a cup of chai and tuck in. Top pick Kartography by award winning author Kamila Shamsie holds a special place in my heart as it …

The London edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival makes its return this month for an inspiring weekend of words, books, music, food and camaraderie (10-11 June). From ‘Bollywood Narratives’ to ‘Letters to a Writer of Colour’, from ‘The Double to Diaspora’ to ‘Brown Speak’, the 10th year of JLF in London features a packed programme …

Aftermath by Preti Taneja has been named the winner of the tenth annual Gordon Burn Prize at Durham Book Festival (13 October). Taneja’s second book Aftermath strives to make sense of the London Bridge terror attack in 2019. Usman Khan was a convicted terrorist who spent eight years in prison and went on to kill …

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka has been named winner of the Booker Prize 2022 (17 October). The author was presented with his trophy by Her Majesty the Queen Consort in a new-look ceremony held at the Roundhouse. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, published by the independent press Sort of Books, …

In this exclusive feature for The Asian Writer, Selma Carvalho and Reshma Ruia discuss Ruia’s latest novel Still Lives which explores, with complexity and nuance, a life in crisis. SC: The protagonist of Still Lives, PK Malik is a first-generation Indian immigrant, trapped between modernity and tradition, between desire and restraint, between personal fulfilment and …

Tomb of Sand, written by Geetanjali Shree and translated from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell, was announced as the winner of the 2022 International Booker Prize last week (26 May). Tomb of Sand is the first book in any Indian language to win the prize, and the first novel translated from Hindi to be recognised by …

A new literary scheme Space To Write is looking to support writers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who want to write or are already writing commercial fiction. Launched with Orion Publishing, Metro.co.uk and The Arvon Foundation, the project is inspired by Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams’ journey to success. The Project aims to give prospective authors the access, time and space …