There are hundreds of entries already in, and if you are interested in participating, there are a few days left before the deadline! Please click here for the details and what Shreya as Head Judge hopes to find in the stories sent in, as well as about her long and varied writing career in an interview taken by New Writers UK
Photo and caption by Olivia Rose Barns, Shreya is holding her collection of short stories, ‘Strange’ (aka. ‘Strange:Stories’), published by HarperCollins in 2019
Over Christmas 2024, a British and a South African professor from the University of Durham (est.1832) and the University of Bath, discovered Shreya’s debut book ‘Memoirs of My Body’ (HarperCollins 2017) and decided to devote a whole episode of their Feminist Sports Lab book club vodcast to its exploration.
Professor Stephen Mumford, Head of Philosophy at Durham University, and Dr Sheree Bekker, Professor in the Department for Health at the University of Bath, authors of several successful books, talk about Shreya’s first book and its “incredible feminist writing” in an insightful, easy yet scholarly conversation. In their introduction to their discussion of the book, they have said:
“In this episode of FSL Book Club, Sheree Bekker and Stephen Mumford dive into Shreya Sen-Handley’s bold and evocative book, Memoirs of My Body. They discuss how this deeply personal memoir explores themes of identity, self-expression, and the evolving relationship we have with our bodies. Through candid storytelling and cultural critique, Sen-Handley’s work challenges societal norms and celebrates the power of self-acceptance. Sheree and Stephen reflect on the book’s impact, sharing their own insights on its relevance to body image, autonomy, and liberation. If you’re curious about the intersections of culture, feminism, and personal growth, this conversation is for you.”
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
“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
(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
Author, columnist and playwright Shreya Sen Handley hosts the second Beyond The Spectrum masterclass.
In the pandemic, Shreya discovered she was autistic. She’s written about it at the end of her third book, Times of India Best Nonfiction Book 2023 longlisted ‘Handle with Care’ (HarperCollins 2022), and her newspaper columns. Her play on the subject, ‘Quiet’, premiered at award-winning Tara Theatre in London, alongside new work by Hanif Kureishi, in 2021.
In this writing masterclass, Shreya explores how being Autistic gives her writing unique perspective and shares her best tips for aspiring novelists.
Please click here to watch
First Story is Britain’s leading creative writing charity, and it works with a whole host of organisations, especially secondary schools, with a focus on those with fewer opportunities, to ignite a love for creative writing https://firststory.org.uk/
Its collaborating writers include well-known names such as Tracy Chevalier (‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’), one of their ambassadors, as well as Neil Gaiman, Elif Shafak, Michael Morpurgo, Ian Rankin, and more, contributing writers to their current campaign, a ‘Six Word Stories’ auction that will raise money to support disadvantaged young writers https://ww2.emma-live.com/FirstStory/?list_lots
Find out more about the wonderful work they do, the people they work with (including Queen Camilla, First Story Patron), and Shreya’s place within it here
Shreya Sen-Handley 