Unbound selects Hussain and Barri as 2024 Unbound Firsts authors

Unbound has selected Iqbal Hussain and Zahra Barri as its Unbound Firsts authors of 2024.

Unbound Firsts is an annual publishing opportunity for debut writers of colour.  Launched in 2022, it is an initiative designed to “discover fresh voices, new talent and amazing stories to turn into published books".

Every October, Unbound launches an open call for writers to submit their fictional or non-fictional debut books, from which two will be selected and offered a publishing deal with Unbound. Submissions for Unbound Firsts 2024 titles opened on 3rd October 2022 and closed on 30th November 2022.

The two selected titles are Hussain’s Northern Boy, described as “a comic and poignant tale of a young British-Pakistani boy’s dream to break out of the confines of his small town”, and Barri’s Daughters of the Nile, a “bold, multi-generational debut, exploring themes of queerness, revolution and Islamic sisterhood".

Aliya Gulamani, commissioning editor and editorial lead for Unbound Firsts, said: “I’m so excited to present our new Unbound Firsts titles, which will be published in 2024. They’re bold and exciting debut books from two extraordinary writing talents.

“With this imprint we want to find new talent and showcase their diverse stories to the world, recognising that there are readers, as well as writers, who want to see their own lives reflected on their bookshelves. These two books are paving new conversations and interactions, which is absolutely thrilling for Unbound to be a part of."

Barri said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to be an Unbound Firsts 2024 writer. Unbound are such an awesome publisher, who champions new authors, of which I am so grateful! It’s an actual dream come true to get my passion project, Daughters of the Nile, published with them.”

Hussain commented: “I’ve always loved how Unbound showcases books from all sections of society, covering a vast range of genres, styles and topics. And now, with Unbound Firsts, I will be part of an exciting new imprint that further champions books you might not ordinarily get to read. I’m honoured, humbled and overjoyed to have my deeply personal debut novel published by such a forward-thinking team.”