Two writers of Pakistani origin are up for some prestigious literary awards this month.

Aamina Ahmad, whose debut The Return of Faraz Ali earlier won the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s ‘Best First Novel’ accolade, has been shortlisted for the McKitterick as well as the Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize.

Also vying for the McKitterick is Taymour Soomro’s debut Other Names for Love.

The McKitterick Prize is endowed by Tom McKitterick, former editor of the academic journal Political Quarterly. Since 1990, it has been given annually for a debut book, either published or unpublished, written by authors above the age of 40.

Meanwhile, the Gordon Bowker Volcano is awarded to writers who are either citizens or residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland, for novels focusing on the experience of travel away from home. It is inspired by English poet Malcolm Lowry’s novel Under the Volcano and is endowed by Lowry’s biographer Gordon Bowker.

Both prizes are administered by The Society of Authors (SoA), based in the UK. Winners will be announced on June 29.

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, June 11th, 2023