I am currently finishing a novel, which is literary, mainly adult orientated, with a dark fantastical twist here and there.

I think that my novel would fit into the category of ‘British Asian Literature, if it had to and yet, it is different because it engages quite explicitly with issues around gay adolescence in contemporary Britain. It also has an overarching plot that explores Sri Lankan Buddhism and history and mysticism, especially in terms of power relations. Arguably it is a novel about different kinds of collision if you like.

Everything I work on, both my creative and in my academic life, tend to touch on moments of collision, as I mentioned in the answer before. I find I am repeatedly excited by the idea of seemingly irreconcilable opposites coming together and then producing a highly resonant story. I think that many writers are working out their own preoccupations, no matter what they are, no matter how personal or of the moment, on the page through genres, through conflict and resolution. I don’t think I am that different here.

Early mornings. Huge lined notebooks. Much loved pen. Public transport. Small notebook and Biro. Redrafting. Redrafting. Word Processing. Words. Sentences. Climaxes. Redrafting. Early mornings. That’s it.