Soniah Kamal

Soniah Kamal is a highly acclaimed author, essayist, and public speaker. She was born in Pakistan and spent her formative years in Saudi Arabia, England, and various states in America. She is a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and has a deep appreciation for the works of Jane Austen.

Kamal's most recent novel, "Unmarriageable: Pride & Prejudice in Pakistan," has received numerous accolades, including being a Financial Times Readers' Best Book of 2019, a New York Public Library pick, an NPR Code Switch 2019 Summer Read Pick, and a Georgia Center for the Book's 2019 choice for "Books All Georgians Should Read." Her debut novel, "An Isolated Incident," was a finalist for the Townsend Award for Fiction and the KLF French Fiction Prize. Kamal's TEDx talk focuses on second chances, and her keynote address at a U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony highlights the real American Dreams.

In addition to her novels, Kamal's work has been featured in various critically acclaimed anthologies and publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, and Buzzfeed. She is a public speaker who has given talks on topics such as second chances and the immigrant experience in America. Kamal is a recipient of several awards, including the Susan B. Irene Award from St. Johns College and a Paul Bowles Fiction Fellowship from Georgia State University. She is also a member of the National Books Critics Circle and PEN America.

Kamal is a dedicated educator who has taught creative writing and global literature at various institutions, including Emory University, Oglethorpe University, and Reinhardt University. She has served as Writer-in-Residence for the Fulton County Library System and is a repeat mentor for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. Kamal's short stories and essays have been shortlisted for several awards and are recommended reads by VELA and Longreads. She is a prolific writer who continues to produce insightful and thought-provoking work.