CHICAGO—Canadian authors Farzana Doctor and Vivek Shraya will make a special appearance at Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville Avenue, on Saturday, March 31st at 3p.m.. The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for sale.
Farzana will read from her second novel, Six Metres of Pavement and Vivek will read from his first book, God Loves Hair. New York City is the sixth stop on a seven-city tour that includes Westwood, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Sarnia.
The event is being sponsored by Trikone-Chicago. Fawzia Mirza will open the afternoon with introductions.
More information can be found at: godlovespavement.tumblr.com
Find the tour trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzu7EJi12i0&feature=youtu.be
FARZANA DOCTOR is the recipient of the Writers' Trust of Canada's Dayne Ogilvie Grant ( 2011 ) . Her first novel, Stealing Nasreen, received critical acclaim upon its release in 2007. Farzana is also an activist and psychotherapist.
Her second novel, Six Metres of Pavement, was listed as a NOW Magazine Top Ten Book of 2011 and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a paean to second chances." A story of redemption, it follows Ismail Boxwala, who made the worst mistake of his life one summer morning twenty years ago. His life begins to change after he reluctantly befriends two women: Fatima, a queer activist kicked out of her parents' home; and Celia, his grieving Portuguese-Canadian neighbour who lives six metres away.
VIVEK SHRAYA s a Toronto-based artist and arts educator. Winner of the We Are Listening International Singer/Songwriter Award, Vivek has released albums ranging from acoustic folk-rock to electro synth-pop. Vivek also creates and delivers workshops and guest lectures about writing, art, gender, sexuality and homophobia.
His first book, God Loves Hair, was selected as a finalist in the 2011 Lambda Literary Awards and is currently being used as a textbook at several post-secondary institutions. The collection of 21 short stories follows a tender, intellectual, and curious child as he navigates complex realms of sexuality, gender, racial politics, religion, and belonging. Told with the poignant insight and honesty that only the voice of a young mind can convey, the stories are accompanied by the award-winning illustrations of Toronto artist Juliana Neufeld.
TRIKONE-CHICAGO is a group for South Asian / Desi people in Chicago and the Midwest, who identify as queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, gender queer, kothi, hijra, or questioning. Trikone hosts public events at coffee shops, bars, and university campuses to promote understanding of the rich and diverse culture of South Asia.
