Raising the profile of South Asian writers since 2007
In April this year, The Asian Writer launched a collection of short stories featuring exciting new voices featured on this year’s The Asian Writer Short Story Prize shortlist. Dividing Lines was launched in early Spring at the Birmingham Literature Festival, and hosted by broadcaster Bidisha. A number of writers, including Meera Betab, Namita Chakrabarty, Farhana …
Mahsuda Snaith’s mesmerising first novel The Things We Thought We Knew is a story full of twists and turns that blurs the lines between reality, memory and imagination. Eighteen year-old Ravine Roy has been bed-bound due to chronic pain syndrome for the last eleven years. From her bed, Ravine describes the Leicester council estate where …
A new crowdfunded book hopes to show the world as others see it, raising funds for refugee and anti-hate charities. Charles Fernyhough, writer and psychologist set up the project on Unbound Books last month. ‘Across the world, intolerance of otherness is growing: in Donald Trump’s America, in Brexit Britain and in a Europe seared by …
It wasn’t until the brink of his thirties, that Rishi Dastidar started reading and writing poetry. Before then, his passion was music, specifically indie rock. It’s not surprising then, that Dastidar invites his readers to play the song ‘Gone Without Feeling’ by Black Ryder ‘before, during or after reading his debut collection,’ suggesting the two …
When my daughter was four, she made me a book. It’s full of secret writing. She says I can decide what the writing says. Which made me think – is that what novels are like for writers – a book in our heads full of secret writing? We might transcribe it, or type it or …
The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) comes to the UK for the very first time this Spring. Featuring as part of the Southbank Centre’s annual Alchemy festival this May, KLF will celebrate contemporary Pakistan, its rich history and culture in the context of the 70th anniversary of the country’s foundation. A day of events (May 20th) including debates, …
During my nearly two decades in the book world I have received countless submissions from authors. Some of these were beautifully presented, enticing packages that made me want to read the whole manuscript. Some were not quite as polished but I was able to see past the rough edges to the interesting proposal beneath. Most, …
Twelve writers from across the country are joining Penguin Random House UK’s year-long mentoring programme, WriteNow, which aims to find, mentor and publish new writers from communities currently under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves. Each writer is being paired with a mentoring editor from Penguin Random House with experience and expertise in their genre. Together, the …
by Nilopar Uddin A damp evening in Manchester’s Dean Street, and Waterstones is brimming with eager faces. Speaking to the women sitting around me, I realise that Mohsin Hamid is something of a rockstar literati; this room is packed with fans who exhibit the effervescent excitement of groupies. Hamid, whose writings has been variously described …
Firstly *breathe*. In all the years (almost 10) I’ve been doing this, I’ve never been more excited to do a books roundup or a single post. In terms of fiction, 2017 is filled with nothing short of genius. I’m already expecting my own writing to fall by the wayside in honour of the books published …