DESIblitz.com has secured appearances from authors Humza Arshad, Hari Kunzru, Moni Mohsin, Sarfraz Manzoor, and Amerah Saleh in the line-up for their online literature festival, that will take place from September 19th to September 25th this year. At the same time the organisation will launch DESIblitz Arts, a new online platform designed to promote and support the creative writing community with connections to South Asia.

The festival isn’t just about well-known authors and spoken word performers. Just as with all the work DESIblitz does, there’s a major focus on providing opportunities to hear the works of new authors and performers. Some have just secured their first publishing deal, others have yet to be snapped up, but all of them have something original to say and look at life through the lens of being British with a South Asian heritage.

Festival director Indi Deol says, “We want this festival to show just how important it is to provide ways in which new creative writers or performers can be seen and heard, especially those who come from sectors currently under-represented in the wider literature and publishing worlds. As an already successful online magazine, DESIblitz is in the ideal place to bring these new authors to the attention of a much wider audience. Having internationally known and successful writers such as Humza, Hari and Moni involved is fantastic news for the festival, but highlighting newer talent is just as important for us and always will be.”

The event also celebrates the launch of an exciting new DESIblitz arts platform.

Revealing more, Indi says, “We’ve created DESIblitz Arts and are launching it simultaneously with the festival to ensure that we continue to support and
nurture emerging literary talent throughout the year. This platform has been especially created to develop a community of like-minded people who are in

DESIblitz.com is an Aidem Digital CIC publication (Company Registration Number 07276961) need of support to get recognition for their work, and we are keen to showcase writing and spoken word that has a British Asian connection to South Asia.”

The festival was originally planned as an in-person event, but circumstances across the world owing to the Covid-19 pandemic meant there had to be a rethink, and the programme was adapted to an online offer able to go ahead thanks to support from Arts Council England.

The seven-day event offers a programme of workshops, author interviews, live Q&A’s, and spoken word performances. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite and
are priced at either £3.00 or £5.00.

For the full event line-up and to book tickets go to https://www.desiblitz.com/arts/events