For her debut novel Nina Is Not OK

Shappi Khorsandi has been longlisted for a literary award. 

Her debut novel, Nina Is Not OK, is up for the Jhalak Prize for the book of the year by a writer from a Black, Asian, or minority ethnic background.

The award spans all genres, including fiction, non-fiction, short story, graphic novel, poetry, and children’s books.

Khorsandi’s book is about a hard-partying 17-year-old, whose drunken exploits are the stuff of college legend. It was described by publisher Ebury Press as a darkly funny and sometimes shocking book, and pitched at fans of Caitlin Moran and Lena Dunham.

Author Sunny Singh, who co-founded the £1,000 prize last year, said the list demonstrates ‘the strength, range and promise being produced by writers of colour in the UK today.’

A dozen titles are on the shortlist of  books published in 2016. But in November, a month before the deadline for entries, Singh branded publishers ‘pathetic’ after receiving only 51 submissions. ‘There are obviously not enough books being published by BAME authors,’ she told the Guardian at the time.

Today she said: ‘It has been an absolute joy and privilege to read through the submissions. The first ever Jhalak Prize longlist demonstrates the strength, range and promise being produced by writers of colour in the UK today.’

The winner will be announced during Bare Lit Festival for writers of colour, to be held in March.

Click here to read our review of Nina Is Not OK and here to buy it.

Published: 5 Jan 2017