New Fiction by Afghan Woman: An International Women's Day Event

Every year ShelterBox Book Club celebrates International Women's Day with a book that showcases stories from women across the globe. We have once again joined forces to present a special live online event to celebrate this year's choice My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird.

My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women is a landmark collection: the first anthology of short fiction by Afghan women. 18 writers from the country’s two main linguistic groups (Pashto and Dari) tell stories that are both unique and universal – stories of family, work, childhood, friendship, war, gender identity and cultural traditions.

The collection was developed over two year’s through UNTOLD’s Write Afghanistan project, at a pivotal moment in Afghanistan’s history, when these voices must be heard.

We are delighed that one of the authors Marie Bamyani will be joining Lucy Hannah, who edited the collection of stories for this live onine event. Together with ShelterBox’s Catherine Thornhill they discuss the writing project and being part of this unique book. The event also features readings by other contributors.

“This book reminds us that everyone has a story. Stories matter; so too the storytellers. Afghan women writers, informed and inspired by their own personal experiences, are best placed to bring us these powerful insights into the lives of Afghans and, most of all, the lives of women. Women’s lives, in their own words – they matter.” (Lyse Doucet in her introduction to the book)

This is a live online event with the opportunity for you to join in with questions and comments. As soon as the broadcast is over, it will be able to watch for up to 30 days.

There is still time to sign up to ShelterBox Book Club and receive the book before the event. ShelterBox Book Club is offering free copies of Three Apples Fell From The Sky by Narina Agbaryan, our IWD pick from last year, for new subscribers. Use the code Bristol-Ideas-23 at the sign-up checkout to claim your free copy.

It’s important to us that ideas and debate are affordable to everyone. It’s also important that our commentators, artists, writers, poets and thinkers are paid. This is a Pay What You Can event. You are invited to choose your own contribution to the event. A free option is available. All proceeds go towards supporting our speakers and sustaining Bristol Ideas.

This is an online event on Crowdcast. Please note that Crowdcast works best in Chrome.

Booking a ticket for our Crowdcast event
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Joining our Crowdcast event
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Download this guide for more information about using Crowdcast.

Live captions
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Bristol Ideas: ShelterBox Book Club