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."
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EVENTS
5 May '23 – Melbourne Writers’ Festival
10-11 May '23 – Brisbane Writers’ Festival
19-21 May '23 – Auckland Writers’ Festival
22-24 May '23 – Byron Bay Writers’ Festival
24-26 May '23– Sydney Writers’ Festival
17 June '23– Gratiaen Prize Event, Colombo
25-26 JUNE '23- BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL
27 JUNE '23- LORDS ASHES DINNER
1-2 JULY '23- MYSURU LITERATURE FESTIVAL
27 AUGUST '23- EDINBURGH LITERATURE FESTIVAL
2-4 SEPT '23- FT FESTIVAL, LONDON
7 SEPT '23- FESTIVALETTERATURA, MANTOVA
11 SEPT '23- TURIN READINGS
12 SEPT '23- INTERNATIONALES LITERATURFESTIVAL BERLIN
14 SEPT '23- ATHENS READINGS
27 SEPT '23- FNAC LISBON
20- 22 OCT '23- UBUD WRITERS AND READERS FESTIVAL
13 - 15 NOV '23- SILK ROAD SLIPPERS MASTERCLASS
26 nov '23- booker prize ceremony
29 NOV '23- FOYLES WITH PAUL LYNCH
26-29 JAN '24- GALLE LITERARY FESTIVAL
5-8 FEB '24- NYU ABU DHABI
8-12 FEB '24- CEYLON LITERARY FESTIVAL
16 march '24- umea litfest, sweden
28 june '24- kellogg college, oxford
29 june '24- ely arts festival, cambridge
6 sep '24 - artra event, lk
12 Sep '24- HUM Global, copENHAGEN
28-29 sep '24- South Asian Literature and Art Festival, usa
1 oct '24- Georgetown University, washington dc, usa
4-5 oct '24- IHGC Games Lab: Student Meet & Greet with Shehan Karunatilaka, usa
6-7 oct '24- university of elon, north carolina, usa
13-15 oct '24- university of kenyon, ohio, usa
20-23 oct '24- icca congress, abu dhabi
31 oct-2 nov '24- bookbedonnerd, sa
9-11 nov '24- singapore writers festival, singapore
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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.
​
Last year, a short story collection, The Birth Lottery and other Surprises was published by Hachette India, while his Booker-winning novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida is published by Sort Of Books UK, WW Norton & Company US, and in 26 languages worldwide. His debut screenplay for 800: The Murali Story was filmed in 2022 and released worldwide on Amazon Prime.
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 – Aitana Guneratne sureni.gunaratne@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
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"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
