Dubai: Notable writers listed for the Man Booker Prize shared thoughts about their craft while addressing ways that great books can be recognised in the market during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on Friday.
Kamila Shamsie, author of seven novels — most recently ‘Home Fire’ — whose work has been translated into 20 languages, was longlisted for the 2017 award while Fiona Mozley, the author of her first novel ‘Elmet’, was shortlisted for the award.
The Man Booker Prize is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original best novel written in the English language and published in the UK.
British Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie speaks to Gulf News about her work and how India is now the biggest market for many Pakistani writers.
“I was always aware of the prize growing in Karachi because my mother always kept an eye out for who won the prize and got a hold of the winning book, and passed it over to me after reading it,” said Shamsie.
While she never expected to be longlisted for the award, Shamsie said her mindset was that sitting around hoping and expecting to win would waste a lot of time, but if it were to happen she would “jump up and down”.
“I was in the supermarket buying rice when I received a call from my editor. I was on the way to the counter, when I realised I needed to put the rice back and walked outside to jump up and down,” she said.
Celebrating her achievement, Shamsie referred to the numerous books she has come across that were particularly ‘special’ that she never again saw on bookshelves.
“There are so many wonderful books out there that don’t get the attention they deserve. In my 20 years as a published author, I have come across several amazing books that disappear and don’t make it to the next level. There needs to be more ways to get books out there,” she said.
Describing the issue as “dispiriting”, Shamsie suggested that shows on TV and radio channels, where lists of books are discussed and reviewed, will give readers a platform to find out about the latest published books.
“As old-fashioned at it may seem, having shows where the five books of the week are discussed will make a difference,” she said. First-time author and bookseller Mozley recalled the moment she found out she was shortlisted for the award.
“I was walking my dog Stinger with my partner when I received a few missed calls from my editor. When I called back from a cafe, I was given the news and my dog, who could feel something was happening, started barking and howling very loudly — it was very embarrassing,” she said.
While having followed the Man Booker Prize throughout the years, Mozley never aspired to be shortlisted.
“When I was writing the book, my main aspirations were to get the book published and that was my next goal. Being shortlisted for the award has changed my life exponentially” she said.
Also, referring to the demand for more exposure of books and new authors, Mozley said: “It’s terrifying how many great books disappear. I agree that broadcasters need to do their bit to make them better known, as well as booksellers,” she said.
Mozley’s book ‘Elmet’, which follows 14 year-old Daniel, who lives with his father and sister in the Yorkshire countryside, takes a dark twist catching the imaginations of readers and critics, is available at the festival.
