Influx builds links with Penguin India

Influx Press have made their first deal with Penguin India, as the independent publisher aims to develop more links with the country.

Senior commissioning editor at Penguin India Manasi Subramaniam acquired sub-continental rights for Plastic Emotions by Shiromi Pinto. The novel explores the story of real-life Sri Lankan architect Minnette de Silva, the first Asian women architect to be elected to the Royal British Institute of Architects and "a pioneer of ‘tropical modernism," according to Influx. 

Plastic Emotions will be published by Influx Press and Penguin India in July 2019. 

Influx editor Kit Caless said he hopes develop a stronger relationship with the publishing industry in India.

He said: "We’re very happy we’ve started a relationship with one of the biggest publishing houses in India. Personally, I read a fair chunk of writing from the Indian subcontinent and have been looking to build publishing links with great editors and writers working there.

"I’m really excited that Shiromi’s magnificent novel might be the beginning of something bigger."

Subramaniam said: “‘In Plastic Emotions, Shiromi Pinto writes with the all the deliberation that might go into the design of an architectural blueprint, with layers and layers of intricacy that continuously allow multiple dimensions of a complex relationship to emerge. The subtle gender dynamics she piercingly describes in lyrically sparse prose capture the essence of a truly extraordinary piece of our history.”