Booker winner. Writer of punchlines, manifestos, and calls-to-action. Failed cricketer, failed rockstar, failed vegan. Observer of people, machines and markets.
Does not know how to use semi-colons; and unable
to spell diarrhoea without assistance.
Shehan has published two novels and three children's books,
including Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew,
winner of the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize, and
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, winner of
the 2022 Booker Prize.
He’s also written features on sport, music and travel
for The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Wisden, GQ, Conde Nast
and National Geographic.
He has over 20 years’ experience working for ad agencies,
tech firms, media houses, start-ups and multinationals across Singapore, London, Colombo, Sydney and Amsterdam.
the Booker prize
Read the Reviews
A selection of the reviews from the Booker Prize 2022.
"Witty, inventive and moving"
"Executed with a humour and pathos that ground the reader."
upcoming EVENTS
5 May – Melbourne Writers’ Festival
10-11 May – Brisbane Writers’ Festival
19-21 May – Auckland Writers’ Festival
22-24 May – Byron Bay Writers’ Festival
24-26 May – Sydney Writers’ Festival
17 June – Gratiaen Prize Event, Colombo
AUTHOR
Shehan writes about forgotten cricketers, drunk old men, war photographers, chatty ghosts, self-driving cars and time travellers. His stories are absurd and mostly true.
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This year, a short story collection, The Birth Lottery and other Surprises will be published by Little, Brown UK and Hachette India, while his novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida will be released worldwide by Sort Of Books. His debut screenplay for 800: The Murali Story starts filming in mid-2022.
FOR BOOKINGS
Events and literary festivals
MEDIA REQUESTS
UK and Ireland – Ruth Killick publicity@ruthkillick.co.uk
India – Peter Modoli pmodoli@penguinrandomhouse.in
Sri Lanka – Ravin Fernando ravin.fernando@gmail.com
Australia – Ali Hampton alih@allenandunwin.com
New Zealand – Abba Renshaw AbbaR@allenandunwin.com
South Africa – Nompumelelo Mgidlana
Nompumelelo.Mgidlana@jonathanball.co.za
Singapore – Amnah Tan th@apdsing.com
US – Erin Sinesky Lovett ELovett@wwnorton.com
Rest of World – assistant@davidgodwinassociates.co.uk
"The truth rarely goes viral, but catchy songs often do."
- The Birth Lottery and Other Surprises
"I've been from ella to valhalla, but haven't found a word that rhymes with udalla."
- Please Don't Put That In Your Mouth
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Copywriter
Shehan has worked for ad agencies, tech firms, media houses, start-ups and multinationals across Singapore, London, Colombo, Sydney and Amsterdam. He’s written commercials, radio spots, ads, websites, digital strategies, activation campaigns, social posts, brochures and manifestos for the likes of BBH, Facebook, Iris, Havas, McCann, BBDO, Grey, Y&R, Bates and JWT.
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"We haven't changed the guards in 1500 years."
- Sri Lanka Tourism Ad
Clients &
Collaborations
