We had great fun this week sitting down with award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan on the podcast! We discussed her formation in India and Britain, the importance of oral storytelling and family stories, and the stories that helped her to grow up to write beautiful, immersive, richly textured books which celebrate all facets of her heritage and culture. Come with us as we walk with Jasbinder through the landscapes of her life, and find out how she's Storyshaped.

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Jasbinder's own:

Asha and the Spirit Bird

Tamarind and the Star of Ishta

Aarti and the Blue Gods

Xanthe and the Ruby Crown

India Incredible India (illustrated by Nina Chakrabarti)

And the stories which shaped her include:

The wonderful stories told to her by her grandma, and the real-life stories experienced by her family - including the story of Oma the Wild Monkey, who took Jasbinder's brother up a tree!

Skyhawk, by Gill Lewis

The work of Emma Carroll

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

From Spare Oom to Ward Robe by Katherine Langrish

A collection of Greek myths, with Pegasus on the cover!

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, particularly an edition translated by Simon Armitage and illustrated by Clive Hickes-Jenkins

A wide range of mythology, and also stories told through songs

Journey to Jo'burg, by Beverley Naidoo

Wild Song, by Candy Gourlay

Stolen History: The Truth about the British Empire and How it Shaped Us, by Sathnam Sanghera

The Last Whale, by Chris Vick

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

In the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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