Hello folks, I hope you’re well.

I’m really honoured to say that When You’re Smiling, my novel, has been nominated for the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2022. The prize is for unpublished fiction by UK-based Black and Asian women. The aim of the prize, in the words of the organisers, “is to act as a loudspeaker for fresh and original literary voices from an under-represented group, and to help them reach new audiences in mainstream culture.” How cool is that?

The winner of the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2022 and the SI Readers’ Choice award will be announced online on Friday 21 October as part of the Ilkley Literature Festival. In the meantime, the lovely people at SI Leeds have teamed up with the lovely people at The Asian Writer to host a showcase event chaired by Rosie Dastgir and featuring readings from the six shortlisted writers.

I’ve been having fun this week selecting a passage for the reading that will complement the two already available on the prize website (which you can read and view here, along with the excerpts from the other shortlisted writers). It is such a boost to have your work recognised when you’ve been labouring over it for years, and even nicer to have the opportunity to share it with an audience when most of the writing process is a lone endeavour (with just your inner critic for company), so I’m really excited for the event.

The showcase takes place on Tuesday 11^th October, 7:30pm to 9:00pm. It is an online event and doesn’t cost a penny, but you do need to register for tickets, which you can get here. So, if you’re free and looking for some literary entertainment, do join us. I look forward to seeing you there.

Peace and blessings,

Nazira