Courttia Newland is a critically acclaimed British writer with roots in Barbados and Jamaica. He was born in London, England on August 25, 1973, and spent his childhood in Shepherd's Bush. Growing up, Newland developed an interest in music and became a music producer and rapper, releasing a Drum n' Bass white label record with his friends.
Newland's writing career began in 1997 with the publication of his first novel, The Scholar. Since then, he has published several other novels, including Society Within (1999), Snakeskin (2002), The Dying Wish (2006), Music for the Off-Key (2006), and A Book of Blues (2011). His work has been well-received by critics and has earned him nominations for several prestigious awards, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, the Alfred Fagon Award, the Frank O' Conner Award, and The Edge Hill Prize 2012.
In addition to his work as a novelist, Newland has also made a name for himself as a screen and playwriter. His plays include B is for Black, and an adaptation of Euripedes Women of Troy. He has also co-edited several anthologies, including IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain (2000) and Tell Tales 4: The Global Village (2009). A forthcoming novel, The Gospel According to Cane, is set to be published by Akashic Books (US) and Telegram (UK) in February 2013.