Hailed as “one of the most important writers at work today,” author Elif Shafak returns with an intensely powerful new novel, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World.

This exciting new work takes readers on a journey into the consciousness of protagonist Tequila Leila, in the 10 minutes and 38 seconds immediately following her death. Each minute brings with it a sensuous memory, from her childhood in a quiet Turkish town, to falling in love at the brothel where she works in Istanbul, and each memory recalls the friends she made at key points in her life.

In conversation with Unbound co-founder John Mitchinson, Shafak will discuss this reflective new work, along with her career as both a writer and an advocate for LGBT and women’s rights and freedom of speech.

About The Speaker

Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and the most widely read female author in Turkey. An advocate for women’s rights, LGBT rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice a TED Global speaker. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people who would make the world better.

About The Host

John Mitchinson

John Mitchinson is the head of research for British television panel game QI. He is co-writer of the QI series of books with the show’s creator John Lloyd. He has also written 1,411 Quite Interesting Facts to Knock You Sideways with John Lloyd and James Harkin. He is cofounder of Unbound, and presents Unbound’s literature podcast Backlisted.