In Conversation: Elizabeth

I had the honour of interviewing Elizabeth Chakrabarty about her powerful and deeply personal book, Lessons in Love. It was held at a very cute bookshop called Morocco Bound. The novel explores themes of identity, love, and the impact of hate crime, weaving fiction with the author’s own experiences. It was clear how much this book meant to Elizabeth.

I loved every moment of uncovering the book’s journey. You know when you read something and wonder what the author was thinking? Or when a book really resonates with you, or you disagree with something? This was a unique opportunity for me to actually get answers to those thoughts.

The interview was part of the first-ever SE London BookFest. It's a festival created by locals, for locals, thanks to the amazing team at Peculiar Productions, who publish several newspapers, including The Peckham Peculiar and The Dulwich Diverter.  A percentage of book sales were also donated to local food banks run by Pecan.

Next year there’s plans to host 50+ authors over four weeks.  Authors will also spend time in local schools, sharing their stories with children. 

I love the festival’s community spirit.