Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Photographs: Manoj Ratnayake
Stylist, Hair and make up: Nadiya Fernando
Outfits: Fusion 14
Breaking into the publishing industry in the UK is not an easy task. However for UK based Sri Lankan writer Nizrana Farook has achieved a remarkable feat by publishing not one but four children’s books set in the magical isle of Serendib. Her first book The Girl Who Stole an Elephant was such a hit that it made the recommended reading lists for children in the UK. The Boy who Met a Whale and the Girl Who Lost a Leopard are followed by The Boy Who Stole a Bear which is to be released imminently. In June 2022 Nizrana had the honour of reading excerpts from her book alongside Queen Consort Camilla at a storytelling event in London’s St James’ Park where she helped celebrate the opening of an elephant “story trail” created by the National Literacy Trust of which Camilla is a patron.
Nizrana, an alumnus of Methodist College, Colombo credits globally famed author Enid Blyton’s books as an inspiration. With four books already under her belt, Nizrana has already begun work on her next children’s story.
How did you become a children’s author?
I didn’t set out to become a published author. I used to make up stories for my children when they were young and we had characters and stories they grew up with. I wanted to write the stories down so that they’d have it in book form.
I began to teach myself the craft of writing through online resources, but at some point I started to think in terms of publication. I did some further studies and things moved fast after that.
Who inspired you to consider writing as a career?
It wasn’t a who so much as a what. It was the lack of books with characters like us. In the books I used to read as a child only white-skinned children were heroes or did anything remotely exciting! Things are changing for the better and we have a lot more choice now. But I started to think in terms of publication and a career in writing because I wanted to write books with characters like us. As a child I was greatly inspired by Enid Blyton. She does get some flak for her writing, some of it deserved. But her books gave me a love of reading that I have carried into adulthood.
Have you always wanted to write children’s books, and what gravitates you to writing action-packed adventure stories rooted in the natural world?
I wanted to write children’s books from the time I was a child myself. It was always a secret dream though – one that I didn’t ever think would realistically happen. I want to entertain myself first through my writing, so I keep adding peril and action as I go. The natural world aspect came in because of the setting of the stories. My books are set in a fictional Sri Lanka of old, so it’s an environmentally unspoilt and beautiful place.
