This past weekend, I flew to Washington D.C. to accept a First Words Literary Prize for South Asian Writers, awarded to my yet unpublished novel, HAUNTING BOMBAY.  Award-winning author Vikram Chandra announced the prizes for novel and short-story as part of the 2003 South Asian Literary & Theater Arts Festival.  The weekend-long festival also included talks given by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Kamila Shamsie, Taslima Nasreen, Mira Nair, & Lee Siegel.  We were treated to a reception at the elegant Bombay Club, known to be a favorite restaurant of President Clinton when he was at the White House.  After my reading, I was greeted in the lobby by filmmaker Mira Nair who told me that she thought my novel film-worthy!  It was so wonderful to be surrounded by such a supportive group of artists.  I am deeply honored by this prize and thank the distinguished panel of judges and the organizers of the annual festival.

Posted on Sunday, October 19th, 2003 at 6:48 am in News.