Here I showcase a range of writing, encompassing fiction, essays and poetry published in anthologies and literary journals; book reviews, interviews and writing on the arts in magazines, journalistic articles, a travel blog, illustrated storybooks written for a non-profit organization, etc.
The Artichoke
Short story in A Literary Harvest, Longbridge Books, Fall 2024
A worldly take on a sex triangle that plays out over vintage wine and gourmet food in a luxurious, Toronto, lakefront apartment.
“A Literary Harvest give us new understandings and diverse perspectives in making and drinking wine and other libations. These texts and unique drinking voices, created by 42 authors, form a potable Canadian Literature.”
Fantastic Falafel
Short story in A Second Coming, Canadian Migration Fiction, Guernica Editions, 2016
Keshav, a retired engineer living in Mississauga, bumps into Vaman, an old friend. As they renew their friendship, Vaman takes Keshav to a Lebanese eatery, where he reveals a painful secret.
“These short-fiction stories [in A Second Coming] tell much about migration and Canada, in ways that are funny, ribald, tragic or contemplative, but never dull.”
Confessions of a “Nuanced” Feminist
Essay in Resilience and Triumph, Immigrant Women Tell their Stories, Second Story Press, 2015
An essay that explores the birth, growth and change in Veena's feminist consciousness over the years.
"A collection of first-hand accounts of strength, resistance, and discovery from 54 immigrant and refugee women."
I love Bombay and Seasons
(poems), Indian Voices, Volume 1, an anthology of poetry and prose by emerging Indian writers around the world, FortyTwo Bookz Galaxy, India January 2011 (OL)
Two poems. One celebrates the complexity and allure of the city of Bombay, while the other, the wonderfully distinct, Canadian seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall.
“A varied and rich collection.”
Indian Woman I
Poem, in When your voice tastes like home, Second Story Press, Toronto, 2003
"Writing by women from places as diverse as Slovakia, Portugal, India, Uruguay, Korea, Kenya, Italy and Iran. Their stories resonate with joy, despair, sadness and strength."
Reveries of a Riot
Short story in Aurat Durbar, Writings by Women of South Asian Origin, Second Story Press, Toronto, 1995 (archive)
Mira is shell-shocked by the riot raging outside her apartment in Bombay. A literary reflection on violence -- public and private -- and the intersections between the two.
“Aurat Durbar - Hindi/Urdu for "the court of women" - invites readers into the world of women of South Asian origin… a treasury of insights and revelations …”
A Selection of Articles, Reviews, Interviews, Essays
The Arts
Of Human Bondage, book review of Home Sickness by Chih-Ying Lay (in translation), Montreal Review of Books.
Portraits of Cultural Decline and Resilience in Films from Pakistanh, film festival review, Montreal Serai.
Exploring Honour, theatre review, Rungh Magazine, Colour. Culture. Conversations.
Kathak and Tap Dance Converse, dance review, Rungh Magazine, Colour. Culture. Conversations.
Raw Humanity, book review of This Country of Mine by Didier Leclair (in translation), Montreal Review of Books.
Mark Frutkin on His Latest Novel, The Rising Tide, and His Source of Inspiration, interview, Accenti.
Writing Between Languages, essay, QWF Writes.
Between Languages, Styles and Cultures, essay, Montreal Serai.
Cutting Edge Cinema from South Asia, interview, Montreal Serai.
Writers Should Maintain a Certain Distance with the World: author Anita Desai, interview, The Wire.
Belief by Mayank Bhatt, book review, Montreal Serai.
South Asian Film Festival at the Kabir Centre for Arts and Culture, interview with Festival Director Dushyant Yagnik, Montreal Serai.
These Films Fly High, film festival review, Montreal Serai.
In the Shadow of War, book review and interview of author Loren Edizel, Montreal Serai.
Magic Mushrooms and Paranormal Parrots, book review of Chloes by Dean Garlick, Montreal Review of Books.
Nuanced understanding of “back home”, book review of The Girls of Piazza d’Amore by Connie Guzzo-Parland, Montreal Serai.
A Touch of Gothic, book review of Tell it to the Trees by Anita Rao Badami, Rover, Culture & Conversation.
Executor, by Louise Carson, a book review, Montreal Serai.
Peoples Social Forum 2014: “Tooling” the Revolution – A Report, Montreal Serai.
“I always want to make art that is real and truthful.”, an interview with playwright Anusree Roy, Montreal Serai.
She’s having a book baby! A humorous take on getting her first book published by Veena Gokhale, The Rover.
Indian Expressionism – The fascinating marriage of Indian and German cinema an interview with film curator Meenakshi Shedde, Montreal Serai.
Oh MAI MAI, a profile of Montreal Arts Intercultural, The Rover.
Blogging from the Blue Metropolitan Literary Festival, Montreal, 2011
Egypt and Humanism @ Maple Tree Literary Supplement, Canada
Tantalising Glimpses: Tibet in Montreal The Rover.
News
Quebec Mosque Killings, Horrific but not Surprising, News Feature, The Wire.
Why don’t you start a reading club? The Citizen, a Tanzanian newspaper.
Are our schools safe for girls? The Citizen, Tanzania.
llustrated storybooks
The final publications, done for a Tanzanian NGO, are in Kiswahili. Excerpts from each publication are followed by the storyboard in English.
Don’t slip and fall on the HIV Road (extracts, 2.2Mb pdf)
Zainabu’s Education (extracts, 712Kb pdf)
Header image: Khaju Bridge, Isfahan © 2008 Arash Razzagh Karimi through Flickr, CC-BY-ND-NC 2.0
Image sources
- A Literary Harvest: Longbridge books
- A second coming: Guernica editions
- Resilience and Triumph: Second Story Press
- Indian Voices: FortyTwo Bookz Galaxy
- When Your Voice: Second Story Press
- Aurat Durbar: Second Story Press