Image: Teaching creative writing at Nottingham Writers Studio for the last decade
Shreya is hosting an online writing clinic next Tuesday 19 November 2024 for anyone anywhere who writes short fiction and might need some encouragement, inspiration, or problem-solving from an author, columnist and teacher of over 30 years of experience. Do check out the details if it’s of interest https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-writers-clinic-short-fiction-edition-tickets-1036167363477
One reader from the US had this to say about it: “”I really enjoyed her piece. She captured a dynamic that is very much related to the United States non-apology, non-reparations for slavery and for Native decimation. And her conclusion was beautifully bloodless. Wrestling with the past and not getting dragged down yourself in a victim-spiral is not easy. She seems to have her head on straight and now she can continue to get her peaceful revenge!”
Another one from India stated, “Extraordinary article! Monte Cristo has been my inspiration for as long as I can remember: I actually consider it the bible for the wronged, the finest revenge manual ever written. I am entirely with you, there’s nothing quite like revenge, the getting even in a soul-satisfying way. All this ‘sorry’ nonsense, and forgiveness bla is for wimps.”
Please click here to read the article
Image: E.T. or the author??
“The bus trip from Nottingham to London had taken many long hours more than I’d expected and I desperately needed the bathroom as soon as we got to the British royal residence. Vaguely waved towards a corridor, I dived in through the first door I suspected led to a toilet, to find myself in a time warp…”
Please click here to read the article in full.
Image: From The British Media, the author can be seen in the front row, with The Queen at the centre
Please click here to read the article in full.
Pic: Shreya, at the time of her Higher Secondary/A-Level-equivalent exams in India, looking like it was causing her an exam nightmare or twenty!
(Pic: Reading ‘Handle With Care’ to Gerald Durrell, a travel literature inspiration of Shreya’s)
After Britain’s leading literacy charity, the National Literacy Trust, selected Shreya Sen-Handley’s 3rd book, ‘Handle With Care’ (HarperCollins 2022), from amongst many ‘reader favourites’ nominated across Britain, and presented it to The Queen last week, at their 30th anniversary celebrations, the British press covered the event extensively and the author and her book featured in each article (please check reel on previous post). BBC Radio caught wind of it and interviewed her soon after.
‘Handle With Care’ has had excellent reviews in the Indian press too, and last year, it was longlisted (in a very short list of 8 books) for Nonfiction Book of the Year by the Times of India’s Auther Awards, a prize eventually won by top Indian journalist, Barkha Dutt, known for her warzone broadcasts. And the Times of India has the widest circulation of any English language newspaper in the world.
So, this book’s been keeping good company for a while, and is now on The Queen’s To-Be-Read pile, alongside Maya Angelou!
Here’s Shreya’s BBC interview this July, from around 1:23:15 to 1:30:20 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j641rn
Please click on play to watch this 25-second HarperCollins video on the British media attention garnered by Shreya Sen-Handley’s third book ‘Handle With Care’ being presented to The Queen at Clarence House for Britain’s biggest literacy charity, the National Literacy Trust’s 30th anniversary. ‘Handle With Care’ (HarperCollins 2022) was selected from the many reader favourites nominated from across Britain for this special occasion.
Images with The Queen at Clarence House and in front of a rainswept Buckingham Palace from British media and NLT colleague
“Pussycat, pussycat where have you been? I’ve been to London to see The Queen. Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?”
Shreya and her schoolgirl daughter were invited, in recognition of their efforts to encourage literacy in Britain, along with select Literacy Champions, to meet The Queen in London, to celebrate the National Literacy Trust’s 30th anniversary.
Shreya’s third book, ‘Handle With Care’ (HarperCollins 2022), was presented to The Queen at the celebration, selected from the many books nominated as ‘reader favourites’ from across Britain.
A wonderful royal adventure, with fab people, dampened only by the incessant rain (hence the waterproofs of the second photo)!
Shreya is also the author of award-winning ‘Memoirs of My Body’ (HarperCollins, 2017), short story collection ‘Strange’ (HarperCollins, 2019), and travelogue ‘Handle With Care’ (HarperCollins, 2022).
Please watch this space for further details!
Image: by Olivia Rose Barns at 200-year old Bromley House Library, for Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature
Shreya and her daughter have received an invitation to meet the Queen of England at a celebration in London this summer! Along with other champions of the National Literacy Trust, Britain’s largest literacy charity, they have been invited in recognition of the “brilliant work” they do to “share the joy” of reading and writing, and championing of literacy in Britain.
About elections — Indian, British and American — the climate crisis, and embracing change, this article has appeared in more than one widely circulated newspaper (as with all of Shreya’s monthly columns), and has been received with much praise, please click here to read it in full
Shreya Sen-Handley 