Presenting the first trailer of Dev Patel’s highly anticipated directorial debut.. Monkey Man💥
Oscar® nominee Dev Patel explodes in his tour-de-force feature directing debut with a breathtaking, bone-shattering action thriller about one man’s epic quest for vengeance against the exploitative and corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless. Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who, after the horrific land-dispute massacre of his childhood village, was left orphaned on the streets of the fictional city of Yatana. Kid now makes a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he allows himself to be beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. But when, after years of patience and contained rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite, his childhood trauma boils over, and his scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of righteous revenge against the men who took everything from him. Featuring some of the most thrilling, shocking, and spectacular fight and chase scenes ever captured on film, Monkey Man is directed by Dev Patel from his story and his screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee. The film’s impressive international cast includes Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven), Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm), Vipin Sharma (Hotel Mumbai), Ashwini Kalsekar (Ek Tha Hero), Sikandar Kher (Aarya) and Makarand Deshpande (RRR). We can’t wait for this one to hit cinemas soon!
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The track sees former One Direction star Zayn singing in Urdu for a first official release, in what is being hailed as another huge moment for South Asian music globally. South Asia has quickly become one of the most exciting musical landscapes in the world, with new stars in the making thanks to a massive, passionate audience in the market and throughout diaspora communities. As a result, the region has become a hotbed for new global hits. The runaway success of Pakistani trio AUR and their hit single ‘Tu Hai Kahan’ is testament to the huge potential for new talent emerging from the region. The track marries the band’s poetic lyricism with Zayn’s vocals as he effortlessly delivers the song’s chorus. The record marks Zayn’s deeply personal and first entrance into the world of South Asian music and its release on Friday fittingly coincided with his birthday. The release is the first ever collaboration for Zayn with a South Asian artist. He says: “I was incredibly humbled when AUR reached out and asked me to collaborate on their song ‘Tu Hai Kahan’. I love the song and have brought some of myself to it, I hope people love what we’ve done” Check out ‘Tu Hai Kahan’ now on all major streaming platforms. This year’s Christmas message comes from none other than Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan! For Bollywood fans in the UK and around the world, the ultimate Christmas gift this year is his brand new film Dunki 🎁 Be sure to catch the magical and heartfelt rollercoaster of a movie in cinemas now. The year in Bollywood belonged to Shah Rukh Khan, who thrilled audiences across the globe with huge blockbuster films like Pathaan and Jawan dominating the box office and entertaining millions. In Dunki, Khan brings back his on screen charm as Hardy, an ex-army man who decides to help his friends immigrate to England. He agrees to be part of this mission because of his love for Manu (played brilliantly by Taapsee Pannu), a feisty daughter whose family has fallen on hard times and who wants nothing more than to give her ageing parents a better life. Bringing the story to screen is critically acclaimed director Rajkumar Hirani who is no stranger to making movies with complicated emotions, dilemmas, drama but sprinkled with magic. Dunki has a ton of laughs, music, romance and action - exactly what you’d expect with Shah Rukh Khan at the heart of a beautiful film perfect for this holiday season ✨🎅🏽🎄 Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets. This is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life. We absolutely loved working on Bluey this week’s Gala performance at the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre where a host of names and their families joined us on the blue carpet.. with a special appearance from Bluey herself! We’ve been thrilled to manage the UK publicity for The Archies, which celebrated its launch with a star-studded premiere in Mumbai. See below to see some of the red carpet highlights, which saw the who’s who of the Indian film industry turn out to support the release at the iconic Grand Theatre at the NMACC in Mumbai. The Archies brings 1960’s India to life. Set in the fictional hill station town called Riverdale, The Archies is a coming-of-age musical following the lives of the town’s favourite set of teenagers - Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel and Dilton. Seen through the lens of the unique Anglo-Indian community, The Archies explores friendship, freedom, love, heartbreak and rebellion. The film sees the introduction of a new generation of Indian talent, making their debuts as part of an ensemble cast. The adaptation of the iconic comic, directed by Zoya Akhtar is set to hit screens on 7th December only on Netflix - don’t miss it! We enjoyed celebrating Disney's 100th anniversary with the animated musical/comedy Wish. It was directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn (in her feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, based on a story conceived by Lee, Buck, Veerasunthorn, and Moore. The film stars the voices of Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” is an animated musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel returns in Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated new release The Marvels which is out in cinemas today!
In The Marvels, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as The Marvels⚡️ Marvel Studios’ The Marvels stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Seo-Jun Park, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Samuel L. Jackson. In this parody of the UK urban genre Riko and Kane have got it all … big dreams, no respect and a fifteen grand debt. Could things get any worse? Yes! So, it’s time to man up and finally be taken serious as “Roadmen”. Once putting their heads together on various ways to make some money, they decide to rob a megastar in a nightclub toilet and hold up the local bank but things inevitably don’t go to plan!! However, somehow a misunderstanding leads them to be desired and acquired for business with one of East London’s toughest firms, putting them in the line of fire to the firm’s arch-rivals. Can Riko and Kane live up to their name? Will Riko win the affection of Tamara and if he does, will Tyrese, Tamara’s lunatic stepbrother, allow Riko to live? Will his life be worth living if the local London Feds draw a line back to our duo? Anything can happen when Riko and Kane are on the scene in this new action-packed urban comedy. From the mind of Adam Deacon comes SUMOTHERHOOD. MAMA’S SLEEPING SCARF CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S DEBUT INTO CHILDREN’S BOOKS A joyful exploration of family life, written by one of the most outstanding contemporary authors of our generation HarperCollins Children’s Books will publish Mama’s Sleeping Scarf by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writing as Nwa Grace James. This stunning picture book was published on the 5th September and is illustrated by the brilliant Joelle Avelino. This beautiful family story follows a young girl called Chino as she plays with her mama’s sleeping scarf through the day. Running with the scarf, Chino weaves together little incidentals of home life into a glorious celebration of the power of a mother-daughter relationship, and the gentle joys that build a perfect day. Exquisitely written with compelling simplicity, this is a heartfelt homage to family love. A compelling debut picture book from one of the most important voices in literature today, brought into glorious technicolour through the vibrant and contemporary illustrations of Joelle Avelino. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote Mama’s Sleeping Scarf for her daughter, who was three years old at the time. The story, energetic and full of joy, is inspired by the Adichie family and portrays an ordinary day in Lagos. Mama’s Sleeping Scarf is a picture of family life happening, with its natural hourly rhythms, and all the miracles of the everyday, as seen through the eyes of a child. Chimamanda said, “I decided to write as ‘Nwa Grace James’ which is roughly ‘daughter of Grace and James’ because I wanted to honour my parents. I lost them both recently, I adored them, and it’s become so important to me to hold on to their beautiful memories. It is even more meaningful to write this book as a daughter, for my daughter. It feels like a metaphor for how love never dies, how we remain connected to those we love even after they are gone.” Chimamanda Ngozi is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah – which was a New York Times Best Book of the Year – as well as such essays as We Should All Be Feminists. A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria. This is her debut children’s book.
Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan illustrator who grew up in the UK. She obtained a BA (Hons) in Illustration with Marketing from the University of Hertfordshire. Joelle has illustrated several titles, including the twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Baroness Floella Benjamin’s classic memoir Coming to England. 'I started reading and couldn't put it down. A fascinating, essential, inclusive dive into British history. It's the kind of book I wish was available when I was a kid' Joseph Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate An eye-opening story of the history of Britain, focusing on a part of our past that has mostly been left out of the history books: Black British history. From science and sport to education and law, celebrate the hard work of brilliant Black people from different backgrounds that have helped build Britain. Learn about key and complex historical topics such as the world wars, slavery, the industrial revolution, Windrush and the Black Lives Matter movement. This fascinating book will change everything you thought you knew about our green-grey isles. Atinuke was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK when she was a child. Her first love was performing stories and she now pours her creative talents into writing children's books, such as the enchanting fiction series Anna Hibiscus (Walker). Her recent picture book, B is for Baby (Walker) was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award. Many of her books, such as Africa, Amazing Africa (Walker), which won the 2020 School Library Association's Information Book Award, are inspired by the beautiful continent of Africa.
Kingsley Nebechi is a successful Nigerian-British artist, illustrator and graphic designer based in London. Inspired by African art, Kingsley is recognised for both his commercial and gallery work. He has worked with brands including Nike, BuzzFeed, Google and Sony and his artwork featured in Dapo Adeola's Hey You! (Puffin, 2021). Kingsley is a proud BLM activist, who has created powerful illustrations for this cause for the BBC and The Guardian. We had the summer scaries at the UK premiere in Leicester Sq with some of our faves on the haunted carpet 👻 A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts. Directed by Justin Simien, the film features an all-star ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon and Dan Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost. Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, Haunted Mansion is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic mixes up classroom capers, relatable characters and heartfelt moments from comedy superstar Romesh Ranganathan. Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic is inspired by Romesh’s well-known love of hip-hop, rap music and his less well-known love of baking! At the heart of this funny and heart-warming book is that everyone (just like Romesh) can - with a little help from their friends – find something they’re good at. Ever since James's dad left, he can't seem to stop worrying about everything. Luckily his favourite hobby, baking, is a fun (and delicious!) distraction. But no matter how many amazing brownies James makes, he still feels like there's a missing When James hears someone rapping in the playground one breaktime, he's completely hooked and starts writing his own raps featuring all of his favourite things – music, his giant pet rabbit Graham and of course – cake! Then he discovers that grime artist Brukka is on the hunt for new talent and James wonders if this is his chance to share his muffins, his music, and maybe even his feelings with the whole school. If he can just find the confidence… Puffin will publish Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic on 20th July 2023 in hardback, RRP £14.99, ebook and audio. The books is now available for pre-order About the author
Multi award-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan is best known for fronting such series’ as The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, The Ranganation, Rob & Romesh Vs, A League Of Their Own, Asian Provocateur, and as the new presenter of BBC One’s Weakest Link. Host of his own BBC Sounds and Radio 2 show For The Love Of Hip Hop, Romesh also co-hosts hit podcast Wolf & Owl with comedy mate Tom Davis. A Sunday Times Bestseller with his autobiography Straight Outta Crawley: The Memoirs Of A Distinctly Average Human Being, Romesh had his second book As Good as It Gets: Life Lessons from a Reluctant Adult published worldwide in October 2020. Romesh’s last tour The Cynic’s Mixtape sold out across the UK including fourteen nights at London’s Eventim Apollo, culminating in a taping at his hometown venue The Hawth in Crawley, which was released as a special on Netflix in 2022 and is available to stream here now. Disney and Pixar’s stunning new animation Elemental is out now! 🍿 We had a lot of fun with some of our favourite content creators at the UK screening and after party - hosted at the infamous Ballie Ballerson in Shoreditch. Disney and Pixar’s Elemental is a new, original feature film set in Element City, where Fire-, Water-, Earth- and Air-residents live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. The film is packed with stunning animation, a story full of heart, quirky one-liners and a brilliant score. Most definitely one to watch this summer! An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by the bestselling author of Empireland, Sathnam Sanghera.
You've probably heard the word 'empire' before. Perhaps because of the Roman Empire Or maybe even the Star Wars films. But what about the British Empire? Why don't we learn much about this? And what even is an empire, anyway? This book will answer all the important questions about Britain's imperial history. It will explore how Britain's empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth, and how it still affects our lives in many ways today - from the words we use, to the food we eat, the sports we play and even to every grown-up's fixation with a good cup of tea. Because how can we ever make the world a kinder, better place for the future, if we don't know the truth about the past? Sathnam Sanghera was born to Punjabi immigrant parents in Wolverhampton in 1976. He entered the education system unable to speak English but went on to graduate from Christ's College, Cambridge with a first-class degree in English Language and Literature. He has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards twice, for his memoir The Boy With The Topknot and his novel Marriage Material. In 2022 Sanghera’s Empireland published to widespread critical acclaim, debuted at number two in the Sunday Times bestseller charts and won the British Book Awards’ Book of the Year for Non-Fiction. He lives in London. Jen Khatun is a children’s book Illustrator of Bangladeshi/Indian heritage, who grew up in the beautiful quaint city of Winchester. She has published work with Macmillan Children’s Books, Oxford University Press, Walker Books and many more. Inspired by her natural surroundings, her favourite childhood stories and the hidden magical moments found in everyday life, Jen loves nothing better than to weave colourful illustrations that dance with playfulness, hum with nostalgia and bring a sense of uplifting appreciation to life and family. She now lives quietly by the coast of East Sussex, and you will often find her walking the South Downs or by the sea with her fiancé and their dog Juno, exploring away in their new adventure! One of our favourite events (and films) of this summer. We had a blast at the special screening of The Little Mermaid, one of the year’s biggest films so far 🧜♀️ The live action release of the classic Disney animation has gone down a storm worldwide 🌎 With some of our faves (and their amazing families) at the special screening at Cineworld Leicester Sq 🍿 Malala loves Polite Society and so do we! Last night was the UK premiere where cast, crew and some of our faves walked the green carpet. A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action, @politesocietymovie follows martial artist-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood 💥 Last night acclaimed writer & director Nida Manzoor joined cast Priya Kansara,Seraphina Beh, Shona Babayemi, Shobu Kapoor, Jeff Mirza, Nimra Bucha, Akshay Khanna and more to celebrate the release of the film. Special guest Malala posted on Instagram afterwards saying “I adored @politesocietymovie, such a clever and captivating film about the lengths sisters will go to protect each other and support their dreams. @priyakansara and @rituarya delivered such dynamite performances and I loved watching the whole cast perform all the martial arts and stunts. It’s so wonderful to see Nida Manzoor continue to share positive and complex portrayals of South Asian Muslim women.” Polite Society is out in UK cinemas on 28th April - be sure to catch it! 🍿 @universalpicturesuk @focusfeatures @workingtitlefilms Ramadan Tent Project is an award-winning charity that brings communities together and spreads the spirit of Ramadan through various initiatives. They want to help create a world where everyone coexists in harmony. Their passion lies in creating spaces for conversation, mutual understanding, and a sense of belonging. We work towards bridging gaps between individuals of all faiths and none, through increasing representation and cultivating a deeper understanding of Islam. The Ramadan Festival is a yearly celebration of art, culture, and creativity
that seeks to unite people of all backgrounds through captivating experiences. Through these events, they foster unity, awareness, and deeper understanding to build bridges and bring communities together. Open Iftar is the UK’s largest community event in Ramadan. Since 2013, they’ve connected over 500,000 people across the country at some of Britain’s most loved & iconic cultural spaces, from the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and Trafalgar Square, to our regional events at BALTIC Museum, Bradford’s Centenary Square, Coventry Cathedral and many more! Green Carpet gala launch of the incredible BBC Earth Experience! Below are some of our favourites from a very special evening 📸 Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, who turned 97 this week, BBC Earth Experience takes guests on a journey through the natural world to explore the extraordinary diversity of the seven continents in one epic digital experience 🌍 Be sure to grab tickets and check out BBC Earth Experience if you haven’t already. An essential and practical guide to arguing, debating and public speaking from award-winning journalist, anchor, and expert debater, Mehdi Hasan. ‘Packed with tips and techniques, as well as insights into the historical importance of disputes, negotiations and rows. Dale Carnegie focused on friends but Hasan has written its contemporary equivalent - How to Win Arguments and Influence People’ SUSANNA REID Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them, as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. Arguments help us solve problems, uncover new ideas we might not have considered, and nudge our disagreements toward mutual understanding. A good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value – and can also simply be fun. Arguments are everywhere – and especially given the fierce debates we’re all embroiled in today, everyone wants to win. In this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, Hasan shows you how. As a journalist, anchor, and interviewer who has clashed with politicians, generals, spy chiefs, and celebrities from across the world, Hasan reveals his tricks of the trade for the first time. WIN EVERY ARGUMENT shows how anyone can communicate with confidence, rise above the tit for tats on social media, and triumph in a successful and productive debate in the real world. Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case. MEHDI HASAN is an award-winning British-American journalist, anchor and author. He is the host of The Mehdi Hasan Show, which airs on both MSNBC and NBC’s streaming channel Peacock. He has interviewed everyone from General Michael Flynn and Erik Prince, to Bernie Sanders and AOC, to Russell Brand and John Legend. Hasan is a former columnist and podcaster at The Intercept, and his op-eds have also appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post. In Britain, he was formerly the political editor of The New Statesman. Win Every Argument is his second book.
What’s Love Got To Do With It? is storming the UK cinemas 🍿 The UK premiere a couple of weeks ago where the stars of the film including Lily James, Shazad Latif, Emma Thompson, Sajal Aly, Asim Chaudhry, Mim Shaikh and more walked the pink carpet at Odeon Leicester Square! Make sure to catch the brilliant British rom com What’s Love Got To Do With It? in cinemas and if you’ve seen it already show us some love ❤️ @studiocanaluk @workingtitlefilms @instinctproductions @khanjemima @shekharkapur Zoe is a documentary filmmaker who uses a dating app that only delivers an endless stream of Mr. Wrongs. For Zoe's childhood friend and neighbor, Kaz, the answer is to follow his parents' example and opt for an arranged marriage to a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan. As Zoe films his hopeful journey to marry a stranger, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love. Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania is out now! Some of our favourites entering the Quantum Realm to enjoy the film this week 🍿 The cast including Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton and Michael Douglas joined director Peyton Reed at the UK premiere in London this week. The third instalment of Marvel’s Ant-Man opens Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and introduces the new big bad Kang The Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors. Be sure to catch Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania in cinemas now 🎟 @marvelstudios @antmanofficial 'Utterly charming and deeply moving . . . Maddie's journey will resonate with anyone who's had to grow up - or who's still trying to' CELESTE NG, bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere MEET MADDIE To her mostly-absent mum, she's Maame, the woman of the family. To her dad, she's his carer - even if he hardly recognises her. To her friends, she's the one who still lives at home, who never puts herself first. IT'S TIME TO BECOME THE WOMAN SHE WANTS TO BE. The kind who wears a bright yellow suit, says yes to after-work drinks and flirts with a thirty-something banker. Who doesn't have to google all her life choices. Who demands a seat at the table. BUT TO PUT OURSELVES TOGETHER, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO FALL APART... With tenderness, hilarity and raw emotion, the novel sharply depicts Maddie’s sense of being torn between two worlds as she navigates flatshares, dating apps, microaggressions at work, the shock of grief, and learning how to become the woman she wants to be – one frantic Google search at a time. MAAME is an assured debut that shines in its iridescence and range of emotion; it is a blisteringly funny and deeply heartbreaking novel for fans of Chewing Gum, Such a Fun Age and Queenie - Maddie's story stays with the reader long after turning the final page, ensuring it will be the standout debut of 2023. JESSICA GEORGE
was born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents and studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield. After working at a literary agency and a theatre, she landed a job in the editorial department of a publishing house. She now lives in North London with an incontrovertible sweet tooth. MAAME is her deeply personal, debut novel. A high-stake YA mystery thriller that follows three boys at a Washington DC charter school who are forced to investigate their principals murder in a twenty-four-hour period, in order to clear their own names The Urban Promise Boys Preparatory School promises to turn boys into men, to help the city’s young people avoid society’s cracks. They promise to transform roughneck boys from being at risk, to upstanding and successful young men. J.B., Ramón, and Try have inherited the program’s routine muscle memory: shirts tucked, yes sirs and no mamas, no rough-housing, no missing curfew, rigorous test prep, and more. This is what is takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of the men in their neighbourhoods. Or so they have been told. But when their principal ends up dead and the cops come sniffing around, the trio comes face-to face with a slew of rotten secrets about their school. And they soon become the case’s prime suspects. With no one to help them, they must find out what really happened in order to avoid arrest. An exquisitely taut mystery combined with social commentary about the way American society too often fails boys of colour, Promise Boys is a Black and Latinx A Separate Peace meets One of Us is Lying. Nick Brooks is an author and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC.
He is a 2020 graduate of USC's TV and Film Production program. His short film, Hoop Dreamin', earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. He is currently in development for his first feature film, We Were Born Kings, with Mandalay Pictures. Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth and many of his stories are colored by his experiences with the children and families of his community. Winner of the #Merky Books New Writers Prize ‘Brilliant.’ Candice Brathwaite ‘Incredible.’ Guz Khan 'Effortlessly Weaving intricate intergenerational stories across time, Jyoti has written a poignant funny debut.’Christian Adofo, author of A Quick Ting on #Afrobeats This moving coming of age story explores what it means to be a person of colour in Britain today, discussing themes of identity and the stories that we tell ourselves to manage trauma. Nik yearns to know more about his father, who died before he was born. His mother, Avani, held hostage by her guilt surrounding his death, refuses to share any information with her son. Nik is forced to create a fragmented image of his father, pulled together from hushed whispers at family gatherings and photos stolen from his mother’s bedroom. When his grandfather dies, secrets are revealed, and everything Nik thinks he knows about his father is turned on its head. Nik makes it his mission to discover the truth about his father and the circumstances of his death, uncovering painful truths in the process. The Things That We Lost is a beautifully tender exploration of family, loss, and the lengths we go to, to protect the ones we love. Jyoti Patel was born in Paris to British Indian parents and grew up in North West London. She is a graduate of the University of East Anglia’s Prose Fiction MA and winner of the 2021 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize. Her writing has previously been published as part of We Present's ‘Literally’ series and in the anthology for the 2022 Bristol Short Story Prize, for which she was shortlisted. The Things That We Lost is her debut novel.
#Merky Books This year we’re excited to launch the third #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize, an annual writing competition that is open to young, underrepresented, and unpublished writers from across the UK and ROI. The winner of the New Writers’ Prize will receive a publishing contract with #Merky Books. The prize will also aim to provide all applicants with the tools, information and access they need to develop their ideas, progress their writing and set off on the path to publication. Set a good 1200 years prior to the events of The Witcher, Blood Origin sets up a wholly original story of the Seven, a group of warriors who band together to topple a tyrannical regime known as the Golden Empire. Although this trope has been done to death, there’s still hope that Blood Origin will turn it on its head or offer some value, right? Wrong. The story unravels in the most lackluster manner possible, with the false promise of a tale that is supposed to inspire rebellion and true change, with a neat little prophecy of doom hedged towards the end. |
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