WestTalks: In Conversation with Zaheda Ghani

Due to the designation of the 22nd September as a public holiday to remember the Queen, this event is being moved to SEPTEMBER 29th. 

Join us as we speak to Zaheda Ghani on the release of her new book, Pomegranate & Fig. Zaheda is a 2019 WestWords fellow, and developed her manuscript in conjunction with our WestWords Emerging Writers Fellowship. Join us as we celebrate her manuscript coming full-circle. The talk is hosted by Vivienne Skinner, a member of the WestWords board, and an Industry/Professional Fellow at University of Technology, Sydney.

When: 29 September, 6.30pm (Arrive after 6pm for 6.30pm start) 
Where: WestWords Centre for Writing, 41 Hunter St, Parramatta
This is a free event.

Taking us from Afghanistan to Australia, this is an evocative and beautifully written debut novel about tradition, family, war and displacement. Shortlisted for the 2018 Richell Prize it heralds an exciting new Australian literary voice.

Zaheda Ghani and her family arrived in Australia from Afghanistan as refugees in the 1980s. At nine years old Zaheda, also known as Zoe, handwrote her first novel using a HB pencil, in a scented diary with a lock and key. The heart of what she wrote back then developed over many years to become Pomegranate & Fig, which was shortlisted for the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers. Zaheda was also a recipient of the Western Sydney Emerging Writers Fellowship. Zaheda served on the board of Australia for UNHCR, the private sector partner of the UN Refugee Agency from 2017 to 2021. She is now an Ambassador for Australia for UNHCR and has an active interest in UNHCR's humanitarian work.