We are thrilled to announce that award-winning poet Rajinderpal Pal’s debut literary novel HOWEVER FAR AWAY has been acquired by House of Anansi Senior Editor Douglas Richmond for World ex-India rights!
HOWEVER FAR AWAY is intimately steeped in the multi-faceted Sikh Canadian culture, its traditions and beliefs, food and music, its multi-generational family structures and values.
The novel is set in Vancouver, circa 2005, told through the POV of three lead protagonists: Devinder Gill, his wife Kuldip Gill and his lrish lover Emily O’Byrne. The main action of HOWEVER FAR AWAY takes place on the wedding day of Devinder’s nephew where all three parties are present. As the events of the day proceed through the traditional Sikh rituals, things begin to unravel, and Devinder, who has always felt he can control any situation, learns there are limits to his sway.
Publication is planned for Spring 2024.
Rajinderpal S. Pal is a writer and performer based in Toronto. Pal’s first collection of poetry, PAPPAJI WROTE POETRY IN A LANGUAGE I CANNOT READ (TSAR, 1998), was the winner of the 1999 Writer’s Guild of Alberta (WGA) Award for Best First Book. Pal’s second collection, PULSE (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2002), was shortlisted for both the W.O. Mitchell City of Calgary Book Prize and the WGA Award for Best Book of Poetry. Pal has performed his work across Canada, in Wollongong, Australia, with Writers For Change, and in Los Angeles at ArtWallah 2003. He has had poems published in translation in Portugal and Brazil.
The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde.
Congratulations Rajinderpal!