Q & A with Hawra al-Nadawi

21 December 2011

When did you begin writing "Under the Copenhagen Sky" and where did the inspiration for it come from?

I began writing at the beginning of 2005 and the basic reason was my desire to be committed to a long-term literary project , so as to practice writing on a daily basis. The inspiration came, quite naturally, from my environment.

Is it your first novel?

Yes.

How long did the novel take to write and where were you when you completed it?

I began it in Copenhagen and finished it in London. It took four years to write.

Have you been influenced by any of the longlisted or shortlisted International Prize for Arabic Fiction novels?

Of course I was always keen to read the winning novels and I also read a number of novels nominated for the longlist and shortlist. Any good novel can influence me - that is the magic of the art of the novel. But if you mean have I have influenced by a particular style of writing, then no, that hasn't happened.

Do you have a literary project planned for the future?

I am working on a new novel as well as writing short stories.