Karen Sullivan, publisher of Orenda Books, is delighted to announce the acquisition of World English Language rights, excluding India and Pakistan, for acclaimed Pakistani author Awais Khan’s extraordinary new novel, Where the Light Falls, and a second, untitled novel, in a two-book deal negotiated with Annette Crossland at A for Authors Agency.
Set in contemporary Pakistan, Where the Light Falls follows two young women from vastly different backgrounds, whose lives become entwined in extraordinary circumstances. Nineteen-year-old Sakina lives in a remote village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where tradition dictates every aspect of a woman’s life. Bright, courageous and in love, she dreams of a future of her own choosing, but her determination to challenge the rules of her world places her in unimaginable danger. In Karachi, Amina is a wealthy, educated journalist determined to expose injustice, yet she, too, faces deeply ingrained expectations about marriage, family and her place in society. When their lives collide, both women must find the courage to challenge the futures decided for them, whatever the cost.
Karen says, ‘I have been a passionate admirer of Awais’s writing since we first published No Honour. He has a remarkable understanding of the challenges faced by women in his native Pakistan, and an exceptional ability to explore the injustices they face with compassion, sensitivity and insight. His characters are beautifully drawn, complex and sympathetic, and the issues he explores are both culturally specific and universally resonant.
‘Where the Light Falls is his most accomplished novel yet. Exquisitely written, intensely moving and utterly compelling, it explores some of the most important issues facing women today, including misogyny, trafficking, violence, and the inequalities of class and privilege. But at its heart, this is a story about love, friendship, courage, female solidarity and hope. Sakina and Amina are wonderful characters, both intelligent and determined to make their own choices, and their stories are heartrending, sometimes shocking, but also filled with warmth, humanity and resilience.
‘Moving between the remote villages of rural Pakistan and the bustling streets of Karachi, Awais evokes a vivid sense of place, combining the richness and emotional depth of literary fiction with a gripping narrative. With the power and scope of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns, and strong appeal for readers of The Covenant of Water and Pachinko, this is a very special novel, with the potential to reach a wide international readership. It’s the sort of book that inspires conversation, challenges perceptions and stays with us long after the final page. We are proud to be publishing Awais again, and cannot wait to share this beautiful, important book with readers.’
Annette Crossland says, ‘The moment I finished Where the Light Falls, I felt it was such a powerful and thought-provoking read, and I am delighted that Karen Sullivan felt as I did, and I cannot wait to see this book become a massive bestseller.’
Awais says, ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Orenda again for two additional books. Karen Sullivan is not just an astute and visionary publisher, but also one of the biggest supporters of diverse voices in this industry. Not one to shy away from thinking out of the box, she really gets books and has published such important and insightful fiction over the years. I can’t wait to see what she does with Where the Light Falls and my next untitled project.’
Where the Light Falls will be published by Orenda Books on 25 February 2027, with the second, untitled novel to follow. For more information, please contact Karen Sullivan: Karen@orendabooks.co.uk.
