Awais Khan is the award -winning writer of four novels;
In the company of strangers, No honor, Someone liked him And recently In the shadow of love,
Khan’s writing has been published by Simon & Shoaster, Orreda Books and Hera Books and recently depicted in Forbes.
The author studied creative writing with the Faber Academy in London and has been on the judging panel of major literary awards and graduates from Western Ontario University and Durham University.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your writing journey.
I am the author of novels acclaimed by four critics, namely: in the company of strangers, no respect, someone like him and in the shadow of shadow. I have spoken publicly about this several times, but my journey was particularly difficult.
Things are quite difficult for writers at the best time, but when you are a writer in Pakistan, just multiply those difficulties by 100. It is just that despite having a population of 240 million in Pakistan, there is not a proper publication industry.
My life changed when I took a novel writing and editing courses with Faber Academy. This was where I completed the first draft which would later be formed in a company of strangers. After that, I received a literary agent (Anette Crossland) in 2017 and got my first publication deal in 2018. I have not seen back since then.
2. Your fourth novel is in the shadow of love. What is about it and what makes it easier than writing?
Whatever it is, writing becomes difficult and difficult. There is a lot at stake, and if there is one thing that is stable in this industry, then it is an imposter syndrome. You constantly feel that you are not. Self-doubt is crushing, but I also feel that it makes a better writer.
The company of strangers in The Shadow of Love is the sequel to my bestseling debut novel. It takes the readers back to the secret life of the elite class of Lahore. The very loving hero, Mona and Bilal, return to this book.
In the sequel, things have finally settled with Bilal for Mona, in which his love child with Ali has been embraced. However, when he receives a message during the day, calm life he causes a threat to crashed carefully.
3. Among the four, which book is your favorite?
This is like asking someone to choose a favorite child! If I had to choose one, however, I do not choose any respect, mainly because I spent years in writing it. This is the book I have been closest to.
4. Your books touch social issues that are bothering Pakistan. Some people may argue that it tarnishes the image of Pakistan internationally. What would you say to this?
To gain privilege to people living in Pakistan, it may look well as my books are tarnishing the image of Pakistan internationally, but if you ever stay and ask the common Pakistani what they are doing, you will realize that their reality is very different.
While living in our respective bubbles in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, we are often completely ignorant of the problems that bother people of this country, and when we hear about them, we worry about how the Western world will react. I think as a writer, it is my responsibility to have a voice of voice.
I try to use whatever effect I use to throw light on social issues in Pakistan.
This will not be inhuman. If people feel uncomfortable about it, it is their privilege, but I will always try to speak against the injustice faced by Pakistanis, come.
If it feels that I am tarnishing the image of Pakistan internationally, then it should be done.
5. Who is Awais Khan when he is not writing?
Awais Khan is a fond reader on writing. I like to read, although these days I did not get enough time to do so. I have to do a lot of boring ‘day job’ work to keep the engine running, but I also like to rest with a good TV series or film.
When I am in London, I am always busy with meetings or catch with friends, so there is nothing time to see or read, but in Lahore, I rarely go out socially, so that I enable me to spend more time with my books and television.
6. What do you think about the publication industry in Pakistan? What can be done here to improve things for writers?
Frankly, I think the publication industry here is in a nap. In addition to the Oxford University Press, we do not have a single international publisher in this country of 240 million people. This is a complete insult.
Local publishers who are present lack essential resources such as good editors, proper marketing personnel and distribution systems, meaning their footprint is minimal. However, the mistake is not only with publishers.
Most Pakistani readers, both and abroad, do not support their writers. He will buy an overporated cup coffee compared to a book by a Pakistani writer. This is a sad reality, which can be a bit difficult for some people to swallow, but it does not make it less true.
Nothing will change in Pakistan until and until our readers go out to buy our books. Instead of buying that coffee, try to invest in a Pakistani writer. If you do not want to support the authors by buying your books, give them exposure through social media and other paths.
We like to support cricket, so why not literature?
Similarly, the publishers here need to go back to the drawing board and see where they falter. They need to find investors, nurture their authors and make proper marketing and publicity plans.
Publishing a book is not just printing it and attaching ISBN number. This is much higher than that.
7. Why do we don’t get more Pakistani writers to achieve success at the international level?
One thing that we all have to realize is that publication is a business. At the end of the day, if you don’t sell, you will not be published.
As I said earlier, Pakistani writers do not see the same support as other writers.
Pakistani people do not generally buy books, and if they buy them, they will pick up pirated copies from the Urdu market. There are many cute readers here who buy originals and support their writers, but we need more. If we want to make a dent, we need many more people.
There is a huge South Asian migrant in the UK and US. There is enough Pakistanis to ensure that Pakistani writers easily exclude every Bestseller list from there.
More sales with Pakistani writers, the more they will be published. Its as simple as that.
8. What is your advice for a budding and emerging writers in Pakistan?
I know that this is an absolutely jackfruit and unexpected industry, but it is very important to believe in your voice… and yourself. This industry will try its best to bring you down, but if you are firm, it can also reward you.
There are some wonderful people here, and if you stick for a long time, you have to be a part of that amazing community. All you need is that a person to believe in his work.
Never give up, whatever happens.
