🎙️ INTERVIEW: Writing Moving Literary Fiction with Leo Vardiashvili
** This is a LIVE interview with author Leo Vardiashvili about the craft of writing and reality of building a writing career. Attendees will be sent a recording after the interview. **
What are the constraints of literary fiction? How can we fictionalise real-life events in our storytelling?
This year Bloomsbury’s lead literary title comes from debut novelist Leo Vardiashvili. Hard by a Great Forest is an intimate account of a family torn apart by war. The story is driven by the mystery of a father who has gone missing on a trip back to his home country.
Join us for a conversation with Leo as we discuss how he crafted his debut over six years, his experiences of honing this book, and what it means to write about home.
We’ll also discuss:
Leo’s journey as a writer
How he developed his craft
Navigating the publishing industry as a debut novelist
How his childhood experiences as a refugee informed the novel
And much, much more.
About Leo Vardiashvili
Leo Vardiashvili moved to London with his family as a refugee from Georgia when he was twelve years old. He studied English literature at Queen Mary University of London.
Your London Writers' Salon Hosts:
Parul Bavishi and Matt Trinetti are the co-founders of the London Writers' Salon, creators of the webby-nominated Writers' Hour daily writing sessions, and hosts of the London Writers' Salon podcast.
Parul Bavishi has been an editor for over a decade. In addition to running LWS she helps thriller, YA and non-fiction writers level up their craft and get published. She writes and edits for the Story Grid. She has worked as an editor and literary scout at Random House, Quercus & Eccles Fisher. She analyses TV hit shows (Killing Eve, Ozark, Game of Thrones) on the Story Grid Showrunners Podcast.
Matt Trinetti is a writer, publisher, TEDx speaker, and facilitator. In addition to running LWS, Matt designs programs to help unfulfilled professionals pursue creative work, start businesses, and reinvent their careers. Matt's work has appeared in Quartz, Observer, Creative Mornings, and on his blog GiveLiveExplore.
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