We are thrilled to announce that Farahad Zama has won The Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance 2009 for his debut novel The Marriage Bureau for Rich People.
Judging panellist Sophie Kinsella said: "The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is a lilting, funny, warm-hearted book set in the world of Indian arranged marriages and match-makers. It deals with both romance and pragmatism in a witty, beguiling way and charmed the judges with its quirky humour, romantic heart and unforgettable characters."
The Guardian website has a feature on the award win, including a comment or two from Farahad: 'Zama is the first man to win the award, and was the only male author on a shortlist of six. His debut, written in 300-word chunks on his laptop during his 40-minute commute to work, traces the travails of Mr Ali who, bored with his retirement, sets up a marriage bureau in the Indian coastal town of Vizag. "It's a little bit unusual that a man is writing in this genre," said Zama, who grew up in Vizag, moving to London in 1990. "But my book is not a typical chick lit book. It's set in India, and deals with reasonably serious topics - but at heart it is a romantic novel."'
Fans of the book will be delighted to know that the second book in the series, The Many Conditions of Love will be published as an Abacus paperback original on 2nd July 2009.
In this magnificent return to the world of The Marriage Bureau for Rich People, we discover whether true love can triumph in the face of fierce family opposition, and how a small community struggles with the clash between modernity and tradition...
The Marriage Bureau For Rich People was a Richard & Judy/Daily Mail choice in November 2008, and went on to be shortlisted for a Nibbie at the Galaxy Book Awards 2009 for the Waterstone’s New Writer of the Year and for the published fiction category at the 2009 Muslim Writers Awards.
Married and the father of two children, Farahad lives in Croydon with his wife Sameera, whom he met once before their marriage. He works for an investment bank.