TBC - Derby Central Library - Book Reading

2005 - 2009 - Moving Manchester Mediating Marginalities - Lancaster University Project - Lancaster University is carrying out research and developmental work into the development of diaspora literature in the Greater Manchester region (from 1960 onwards). The project has a running blog that can be found here. Further information can be found at the official Moving Manchester web site. Amongst the really interesting aspects of this project are the Writers' Gallery and an E-Catalogue. If you know of any work published or otherwise in the Greater Manchester region please contact that research team at the University.

National year of reading

PAST - Book Readings / Poetry Recitals / Appearances

5th May 2008 - Carlton Club in Whalley Range, Manchester - Celebrate Festival - Poetry Recital - 12pm

23rd April 2008 - Loreto College, Manchester - Careers Advice Day (On Becoming a Writer)

23rd April 2008 - DESI DNA on BBC2 - I shall be taking Ravinder Bhogal on a tour of The Curry Mile.

22nd April 2008 - University of Salford - Creative Writing Lecture oranised by the university's Literary Society.

14th April 2008 - Abaseen Charity Fundraiser

11th April 2008 - British Muslim Heritage Centre - Living Islam Out Loud

6th March 2008 - Balderstone technology college, rochdale - creative writing with year 10s. I shall be delivering the sessions alongside Mike Garry, Julian Daniel and Terry Christian.

5th March 2008 - Oldham Lees Libary - Book Reading and Q&A

8th February 2008 - Styal Prison - Writing Workshop

6th February 2008 - Xaverian College - Writing Workshop

16th January 2008 - Levenshulme High School, Mancheseter -Writing Workshop - I discussed the art of the novel and writing in general with fellow writer/editor/playwright/storyteller etc. etc. - Pete Kalu

15th January 2008 - Whalley Range High School , Mancheseter -Writing Workshop - I discussed the art of the novel and writing in general with fellow writer/editor/playwright/storyteller etc. etc. - Pete Kalu

13th December 2007 - Burnage High School , Mancheseter - Writing the Novel with School children - I shall be working with a small group of talented children from Burnage High School

7th December 2007 - Abraham Moss High School - Book Reading/Q&A/Seminar -I work with two different classes (Years 10/11) and explored the art of writing the novel. Thank you to all the staff from the English Department, particularly Ms. Sheena McGowan.

24th November 2007 - Chorlton Book Festival @ Chorlton Library, Manchester - Novel Writing Workshop - Part 2 - The workshops formed part of the Chorlton Book Festival.

17th November 2007 - Chorlton Book Festival @ Chorlton Library, Manchester - Novel Writing Workshop - Part 1 - First in a couple of workshops looking at How to Write a Novel. The workshops formed part of Chorlton Book Festival.

15th November 2007 - 7pm - Islam Awareness Week - Poetry Performance - Poetry performance at the Saffron Restaurant in Manchester. The Canadian singer/song-writer Dawud Wharmsby-Ali also performed on the night alongside Idris Phillips from the United States.

31st October 2007 - Levenshulme Library, Manchester, Levenshulme Community Festival - Book Reading - This formed part of the Levenshulme Community Festival 2007. Thank you to Rose Ryan and all the other members of staff from Manchester Libraries - bricks began raining down on us at one point from local kids attacking the library! Definitely a first. Thankfully, everyone was okay.

25th October 2007 - Chadderton Library, Oldham Literature Festival - Book Reading - This formed part of Oldham's Literature Festival 2007. Thank you to Punam Ramchurn and Tariq Feroze.

10th October 2007 - Indus5, Manchester -Manchester Literature Festival 2007 - Vijay Medtia, a fellow debut novelist, and I read from respective novels. Vijay's book, The House of Subadar, is a tale told in a style quite different in tone and hue from TCM. This event formed part of Manchester's Literature Festival

4th October 2007 - Cafe Muse, Manchester Museum - Panelist "Are Museums Racist"- I shall be taking part in a debate on whether museums are racist. I sit on the Community Adivsorty Panel for Manchester Museum which is part of the University of Manchester. It's great to see such issues being discussed openly.

1st September 2007 - Ancoats, Manchester - New Islington Festival - TCM Book Reading - Manchester's New Islington Festival Was touted as an Urban Folk Festival. It has its own dedicated MySpace page and it was covered by BBC.

7th August 2007 - Sheffield United, Sheffield - Islamic Society of Britain Event -Poetry Recital

28th July 2007, 2pm - Wythenshawe Forum, Manchester - Reading Group Reads TCM

26th June 2007 - Waterstone's, Deansgate - Reading Group Reads TCM - I attended a private Book Club at Waterstone's, Manchester.

19th June 2007 - 7:00pm - Stretford Library, Trafford - Book Reading -The book reading at Stretford Library was my first in Trafford. Thank you to all the library staff!

22nd May 2007 - 6:30pm - Manchester Central Library - Reading Group Reads TCM - I met with members of Manchester Library's Reading Group who had read TCM. You can find further info about Reading Group events here.

16th May 2007 - Bury Central Library - Book Reading - I read from TCM and answered questions from the audience. Many thanks for Maxine and Tony for all their help. You can find more information about Bury Central Library here...

23rd April 2007 - Chorlton Library, Manchester - Chorlton Literature Festival / Reading - I spoke to a small audience at Chorlton Library in Manchester as part of the Chorlton Literature Festival.

19th March 2007 - Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School - Discussion - I met with a group of sixth form students from QEGS. It was quite a nostalgic trip for me as I spent six years at QEGS before moving to Manchester. It was very enjoyable. Thank you to everyone at the school for making it such a pleasant visit.

19th March 2007 - Bangor Comm Centre, Blackburn - Discussion & Poetry Recital - I joined a local Blackburn youth group based at the Bangor Street Community Centre. We discussed writing and excahnged poetry. The young people have some real talent! You can find out more about Bangor Community Centre and its many activities here....

20th February 2007 - Arndale Waterstone's, Manchester - Reading & Book Signing - The event took place at Manchester's newest Waterstone's. I read extracts from TCM, answered questions and signed books. It was a relaxed and intimate session. Many thanks to the great staff at Waterstone's.

10th February 2007 - Stop The War @ St. John's - Poetry Recital - I recited poetry at the Stop The War Manchester Coalition's Fundraiser which took place at St. John's in Chorlton, Manchester. The local Stop The War web site is aptly named: www.mancsagainsttanks.org - check it out!

31st January 2007 - Xaverian College, Manchester - Reading & Book Signing - I spoke to students from Xaverian College. It is the nearest college to Wilmslow Road. The small group of students were very curious and asked some great questions!

30th January 2007 - The Basement, Manchester - Discussion - I discussed the writing of TCM with former students from Manchester University and I answered their many riveting and insightful questions. It was a truly enjoyable and inspiring evening. The event also raised funds for a great charity called Link Community Development.

23rd January 2007 - Manchester Central Library - Reading & Book Signing - I read from TCM at Manchester Central Library and answered questions from a curious audience. Many thanks to Libby Tempest - Cultural Services Manager. For those who have never visited the amazing building, please do - it's well worth a visit.

19th January 2007 - Blackburn Central Library - Seminar & Book Signing - I talked to an intimate audience at Blackburn Central Library about the art of writing. Some wonderful young men and women attended the event and asked lots of questions! I really enjoyed the evening and I'm sure that I'll be back to visit Blackburn Central Library soon.

12th January 2007- Tabak Restaurant, Manchester - Poetry Reading - APWA stands fo All Pakistani Women's Association and has been running for almost sixty years. The event was held in honour of the new Pakistani consul Masroor A. Junejo. The event was very well attended.

22nd November 2006 - Islam Awareness Week - Poetry Performance - I performed three of my poems at the Al-Zahra Restaurant in Manchester. There was a great speech made by Dr. Chris Allen which was very funny and insightful. Click here for more information about Islamic Awareness Week.

20th November 2006 - Manchester Museum - Reading & Book Signing - I read some extracts from TCM at the Manchester Museum in the Museum's Cafe Muse @ 6pm - 6:30pm. This formed part of the Festival of Muslim Cultures.