Chao, Gourlay and Tay host afternoon of book events at SOAS

A collective of East and South East Asian (ESEA) authors including Alice Y Chao, Candy Gourlay and Tania Tay are hosting an afternoon of book signings and panel discussions.

The event will take place at SOAS, University of London, on 21st September, to celebrate ESEA Heritage month.

Fantasy debut author Chao, CILIP Carnegie shortlisted author Gourlay and Waterstones Prize winner Nadia Mikail will take part in the literary celebration. Other authors participating in the event, tickets for which are available from this month, include Eva Wong Nava, Elizabeth Wong and Mina Ikemoto Ghosh, among others.

The aim is to connect East and South East Asian authors with readers, librarians and anyone interested in new and current ESEA fiction published in the UK.

ESEA Heritage month was started in the wake of the pandemic, following the increase in racist attacks on the community.

Venue and support for the inaugural ESEA Authors Lit Fest is provided by Dr Cristina Martinez-Juan, director of studies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, SOAS.

Tay, who writes as Crystal Sung in partnership with Storymix, said: “We’re overjoyed to be hosting our first ESEA Authors Lit Fest, to showcase the range of genres published by ESEA authors across the UK right now. We want to shine a light on the incredible wealth of writing and illustrating talent in our community from children’s picture books, middle grade, YA and adult fantasy, speculative, sci-fi and crime fiction and bring everyone together to celebrate books, reading and creativity.”