Shamim Sarif is an acclaimed novelist and screenwriter. Born in London in 1969, her South African Indian heritage formed the starting point for her first novel, The World Unseen. Published in the UK in 2001 to huge critical acclaim the book is the winner of both The Pendleton May First Novel Award, and the prestigious Betty Trask Award:

• 'Sarif's story brings together the descriptive power of the novelist with the screenwriter's mastery of dialogue'
The Times (London)
• If you only read one novel for the rest of the year, make it this one. Sarif is a new writer who deserves to win prizes.'
Waterstones

Her second book, Despite the Falling Snow, was published in May 2004 by Headline Review, and will be published in the US by St Martin's Press in 2005.
"a perfectly balanced novel of love and tragedy...Despite the Falling Snow is a delicate piece of writing...The beauty of the streets of Moscow, is a majestic backdrop to a play of mistrust and deception where friends, even the best of friends, can turn against each other in fear." Waterstones Magazine

Shamim's talent and passion is for creating worlds where everyday people show themselves to be exceptional - whether in the face of family ties, community traditions or the wider grip of a political regime, her characters are often charismatic and often heroic. Shamim is also the author of several published short stories, and the writer of a short film, Food of Love, which premiered at UK festivals in 2002. She has also script edited a children's TV series.

For further information and reviews please see www.shamimsarif.com