Dr Nazneen Pathak
Lecturer
English and Creative Writing
I am a middle-grade novelist who writes historically-based adventure stories which weave together fantasy elements, specifically, South Asian traditions of magic, with the real, lived history of colonialism and migration. After being selected as one of 12 mentees from over 2000 applicants for Penguin’s inaugural Write Now mentorship programme in 2017, I have been working with a series of editors at Penguin on developing my middle-grade children’s novel.
My debut middle grade novel City of Stolen Magic was acquired by Puffin Books as part of a two-book deal in 2021 and will be published on 1st June 2023. City of Stolen Magic is described by editorial director at Puffin, Natalie Doherty, as “brilliantly immersive and evocative, a truly page-turning adventure starring a gorgeously strong-willed new heroine, and it shines an unflinching light on real colonial history that I’ve seen in very few books for children. We’re so proud to publish this book and to introduce Nazneen and Chompa to readers.”
In addition to my novel, my poetry and fiction has been published in a range of recognised journals and anthologies, including Puffin’s 80th anniversary anthology The Puffin Book of Big Dreams. I have recently been appointed as Hampshire Poet Laureate.
I teach across the Creative Writing BA and MA curriculum in Creative Writing, Publishing and World Literature and Postcolonial Studies.
Students can book a tutorial with me during my office hours via this link:
