Sairish Hussain: Hidden Fires
Join Bradford’s own Sairish Hussain as she returns to the festival for a special event on her latest novel, Hidden Fires, in-conversation with Yousra Samir. Set during Ramadan 2017, the story weaves a poignant narrative between Yusuf, haunted by a nightmarish past, and his granddaughter, Rubi, who confronts the cultural clash of their lives when she moves to London. As Rubi uncovers deeply buried secrets, they both grapple with painful memories that challenge their perceptions and forge a new bond. From the acclaimed author shortlisted for the Costa Prize, HiddenFires is a gripping exploration of grief, loss and the enduring power of family ties against the backdrop of significant historical events. Don’t miss this powerful discussion that delves into the complexities of personal and collective history.
About the Author

Dr Sarah Hussain
Dr Sarah Hussain is a Huddersfield based author and educator. Her novella, Escaped from Syria was a winner finalist in the People’s Book Prize Award. In 2018 she won the Ms Shakespeare competition in Yorkshire and was commissioned to write a monologue, which was performed on International Women’s day. She was shortlisted in a competition run by The University of Huddersfield, and her short story, You will be free one day, my dearest India, is included in the anthology Trouble, published by Grist. She completed a BA Honours Arts of Literature, a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, and recently completed a PhD.
About the Chair

Yousra Samir Imran
Yousra Samir Imran is the author of semi-autobiographical novel Hijab and Red Lipstick, which was longlisted for The Diverse Book Awards in 2021. She is also a freelance journalist. Her bylines include The New Arab, Al Jazeera, The New York Times Magazine, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Stylist. Yousra is a commentator on contemporary issues in Muslim societies, gender justice in the Middle East and women’s rights in Islam.
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