Aspiring British Indian writer Sheena Patel recently published her debut novel – ‘I’m A Fan’ - which has garnered not only huge critical acclaim but has already bagged several nominations. From being shortlisted for The British Book Awards 2023 Discover Book of the Year and the Dylan Thomas Prize 2023 to being longlisted for The Jhalak Prize 2023 and Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, the book has been creating waves since its initial release in 2022 and UK release in March this year.
She is part of the ‘4 Brown Girls Who Write’ collective, has been published in a pamphlet collection, ‘4 Brown Girls Who Write’ (Rough Trade Books 2020), a poetry collection of the same name and has a poem published in the anthologies ‘Slam! You’re Gonna Wanna Hear This’ chosen by Nikita Gill and ‘She Will Soar’ edited by Ana Sampson. In 2022 she was chosen as one of the Observer’s Top 10 best debut novelists. I’m A Fan (Rough Trade Books) is her first book. Born and raised in Northwest London, Patel has also worked as assistant director for film and TV.
In this interview with iGlobal, Patel talks more about her journey as an author, her inspirations and her experience of writing her first ever book.
How did your journey as a writer start and is writing something you have always enjoyed?
What motivated or inspired you to write your debut novel?
I watched the attacks on the Capitol in 2021 and was horrified by it. But I did think, this behaviour is redolent of being in a relationship with someone emotionally unavailable and that these extreme behaviours are a lot closer to us than we’d like to admit.
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How do you feel about the multiple award nominations for your first ever novel?
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Can you tell us a little bit about the novel itself and the subject it covers?
It’s about a woman who Instagram-stalks another lover of a man she’s involved with who is an influencer. But then it’s about so much more: politics, class, race, art and London – I hope it’s funny too. I wanted to push the limit of what the English language could do and reflect how people use it on the internet, playful and squeezy.
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And, what comes next?
No plans as yet. I’m empty. So, I’m waiting.
*Info: Sheena Patel
