The Home of British Asian Writing
Please tell our readers a little bit about what you do, and what your background is? As a literary agent I sell the right to publish books of the authors whom I represent. I manage an author’s career right from the time I receive a manuscript to the book being in a bookstore. This involves …
Sala Choudhury and Gurpal Stickland have triumphed in The Asian Writing New Writing Competition. Sala Choudhury’s entry The Critic was chosen as the overall winner in the competition. Playing on the Mountain by Gurpal Stickland was chosen as the winner in the Poetry Category. Both writers win a £50 Waterstones Vouchers. The competition attracted a …
I am not an intelligent man, nor handsome, sensible or even pragmatic. I’ve never been popular or well known; often reminding people of my name and what I do as they easily forget who I am. Finding me in a myriad of faces is virtually impossible and trying to distinguish my age and ethnic origin, …
1) Have you always been comfortable with the idea that you were a writer? If not when did you accept yourself to be one? I started writing poems when I was six and my first publications were in school magazines from the age of eight and then in my teens I had humorous articles published …
The British Council presented the largest ever festival of Indian writers overseas at the London Book Fair this week (20-22 April). Over 45 Indian writers representing 15 major Indian languages participated in literary events in London and at venues across the UK. Vikram Seth, award winning writer of ‘A Suitable Boy’ featured as Author of …
Ahmed looked at the battered sign above the shop window. His pride and joy, the first restaurant in the road to have neon lights. But these days not all the lights worked, his once prized possession now read “TANDOO BATI HOSE”. He put his key in the door and opened the rickety door, a waft …
Trundling up in this chairlift Hunching into my collar Higher and higher Colder and colder Leaving behind the clamour Of those who, ant-like Follow each other Down the lower slopes I am first To reach the top Lifting the safety bar Sliding on to the waiting piste A crown of peaks all around Sharp, snow …
The shortlists for the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book and Best First Book from Europe and South Asia were announced this month (February 18, 2009). The full shortlists are: Best Book Award Chris Cleave The Other Hand Shashi Deshpande The Country of Deceit Philip Hensher The Northern Clemency Jhumpa Lahiri …
“Please, sir, can I have a break?” I looked up from the photocopier-cum-printer. Who said that? Everyone was either on the telephone, tapping away at their keyboards or reading through some legal document. I didn’t recognise the voice. “Angela, did you ask me something just now?” I asked the lawyer whose desk was the closest …
1) I first heard about you when I was on toowrite.com where you’d just been named the winner of their short story competition…what impact did that have on you as a writer? Well, writing is one of the most solitary arts, you sort of scribble away in your room, regardless of whether you are going …