Foyles and Asia House Fiction Debut 2020: Deepa Anappara

We are delighted to welcome author Deepa Anappara as she sits down with journalist and editor Sarah Shaffi to discuss her sprawling and superlative Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line—Winner of the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, the Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award, and the Bridport/Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award for a First Novel.

Inspired by real life journalism, Anappara’s coming-of-age debut follows three children setting out on a road-trip to investigate the disappearance of their classmates—braving the bustling outskirts of the Indian cityscape, and gaining their first glimpse of an uncompromising adult world. Anappara and Shaffi will discuss the realities of the harsh landscape in which the story is set, and its stark, truthful reflection of India and other major cities around the world today. She will also open up on her own writing process, and the steps that led to the publication of her first novel.

The event will be followed by a Q&A and book signing, and the opportunity to continue the conversation further before the space closes at 9pm.

For events in our Debut Fiction 2020 series, we will be offering a small number of Free Early Bird Tickets. These are open to Foyalty card members, students and unwaged customers and are strictly limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are unsure whether you qualify for a free ticket, please contact a member of the events team at [email protected].

This debut evening is held in partnership with Asia House.

Photography © Liz Seabrook