On the last Wednesday of every month, I share a conversation with an author friend, and this month I’m delighted to introduce you to novelist Hastie Salih.
I first met Hastie Salih last year at the London Festival of Writing, which is Jericho Writers‘ annual get-together, bringing together a huge variety of authors at different stages of their careers in a highly creative and supportive atmosphere. I’m involved as a speaker and advisor because I’m a mentor and course tutor for Jericho Writers – roles I adore, partly because I love helping other authors and partly because it introduces me to so many new author friends, such as Hastie Salih.
When Hastie told me about her books, set partly in London and partly in Iraq, featuring women of Kurdistani heritage like herself, and addressing complex issues of cultural and gender identity, I was intrigued. The stunning cover of her debut novel, Dahlia and Carys, was a bonus, and I immediately ordered a copy, followed by her second novel, The Cradle and the Cage, as soon as it was published. I also knew that I wanted to invite her onto my blog to tell us more about her work, exploring important, under-represented issues.