Durre Shahwar

October 9, 2019

Review: Table Manners by Susmita Bhattacharya

I’ve been a fan and follower of Susmita’s work since reading A Normal State of Mind many years ago. There’s something in the way that her writing pulls together different worlds and different minds so fluidly and effortlessly. Table Manners very quickly became one of my new favourite short story collections. As a short story writer…

July 24, 2018July 26, 2018

Review: ‘Flours’ by Big Loop Theatre Company

There is something underneath the snap, bang and clang of baking utensils that Billie and Dani repeatedly throw around, but the audience might have a hard time keeping up with it. Presented by Big Loop Theatre Company, written and performed by Alice Downing and Kitty Hughes, and directed by Duncan Hallis, Flours packs a lot…

June 2, 2017

Artist in Residence: Mental Health

Throughout the month of May, I was Artist in Residence for Wales Arts Review, using the platform to talk about my chosen theme: Mental Health. More information about the programme can be found here, which I applied to back in August 2016, before I came on board as an Associate Editor. You can also find…

February 10, 2017February 10, 2017

Intersectionality – a Definition, History, and Guide

Originally posted on Sister Outrider:
? Intersectionality has been a common theme in feminist theory, writing, and activism for the last few years. It has even become something of a buzzword. And yet there remains a great deal of misunderstanding over what intersectionality actually means and, subsequently, how it is supposed to manifest within the…

February 8, 2017

The Ordinary Skincare Follow-Up Review

As I await delivery of my second batch of The Ordinary skincare, it only makes sense to briefly talk about the products I ordered in my first batch. My initial review of them can be found here where I talk a bit more indepth about the products themselves and the science behind them. This follow-up will be more…

December 13, 2016December 18, 2016

Publication: A Room of Our Own: An Anthology of Feminist and Womanist Writing

So pleased to say that two of my poems have been published in this anthology. The essays, short stories, and poems in here are fantastic and I’m indeed in great company. Buy a copy here and support the network as all profits will be used to support A Room of Our Own: A Feminist Network. The…

November 19, 2016May 3, 2017

Review: How You Might Know Me by Sabrina Mahfouz

How You Might Know Me by Sabrina Mahfouz How You Might Know Me is a result of years of creative writing workshops with women from the UK’s growing sex industry and Sabrina Mahfouz’s own experiences. It is told through four characters: Sylvia, Tali, Sharifa and Darina, who each use the poetic form to tell their…

October 29, 2016November 14, 2016

Black History Month | An Introduction to Welsh Writers

To celebrate Black History Month Wales, I compiled a non-exhaustive list of black writers with strong connection to Wales, who should be celebrated and known about for their work and achievements. The article, published on Wales Arts Review, features brief bios and recommendations to the works of the following writers: Leonora Brito, Professor Charlotte Williams OBE, Patience…

October 23, 2016October 24, 2016

Raving About The Ordinary Skincare

So I vowed to not blog about beauty products unless absolutely necessary and this is definitely that necessary moment. But for those of you who follow me for bookish things, ya’ll can skip this one and come back in a couple of weeks, which is when I have my next bookish post scheduled (I have a…

October 9, 2016May 3, 2017

Two Important Books Read in September

We’re not going to talk about my lack of keeping up with my Monthly Reads project. Nope. Not at all. But this is a form of/somewhat continuation of that. So here are the two important books I read in September and why I think you should read them, too. The Good Immigrant, ed. by Nikesh Shula…