more-in Shobhaa De, author and columnist, is glad that there are far more female voices being heard in today’s English writing in India than ever before. Speaking at the launch of Twisted, a book of poetry, by Azzah Ashraf, De recalled that it certainly was not the case when she wrote Socialite Evenings, her first novel three decades ago. “I was commissioned to write that book by Penguin, for there weren’t many women writers in English at the time,” she said. “Now, the scenario has changed. We have many women who write in English in our country.” On Twisted, she said she was fascinated when she heard the premise. “I was surprised to find a 17-year-old girl was writing a murder mystery as a poem,” she said. “When I read the book, I was fascinated even more. She has written about a bold theme.” The author, a Class 12 student of Kodaikanal International School, said she always wanted to write poetry. “I discovered I could communicate best through poetry,” she added.

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