36
A new novel penned by a Teesside University academic has received the accolade of being ranked Children's Book of the Week by The Times.
Rani Reports on the Missing Millions is a collaboration between games animation lecturer Dr Satish Shewhorak and his wife, full-time author Gabrielle Shewhorak, who also writes under Gabrielle Kent.
Their book follows the story of budding journalist Rani Ramgoolam, a British-born Mauritian, as she teams up with her Nani, who is visiting from Mauritius, to follow a series of mysterious clues in her search for a winning story for the local newspaper's junior journalist competition. Satish said: 'Growing up, I rarely saw anyone who looked like me in books, film and television, and never anyone from Mauritius, where my parents were born. It was important for us to write a children's book with a British South Asian main character, as we want our daughter to see Satish is a member of the POC in Play organisation, which aims to improve representation within the games industry, and is also researching the level of minority ethnic representation within videogames over the previous decade. Gabrielle, who is a graduate and former member of academic staff at Teesside, is no stranger to literary success herself, with two successful children's books series, Alfie Bloom and Knights and Bikes. She has also collaborated with Teesside University honorary graduate Rhianna Pratchett on upcoming Discworld book Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch. It marks the 20th anniversary of Terry Pratchett's first Tiffany Aching novel, The Wee Free Men.
Satish is a member of the POC in Play organisation, which aims to improve representation within the games industry, and is also researching the level of minority ethnic representation within videogames over the previous decade. Gabrielle, who is a graduate and former member of academic staff at Teesside, is no stranger to literary success herself, with two successful children's books series, Alfie Bloom and Knights and Bikes. She has also collaborated with Teesside University honorary graduate Rhianna Pratchett on upcoming Discworld book Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch. It marks the 20th anniversary of Terry Pratchett's first Tiffany Aching novel, The Wee Free Men.
Best-selling author Adele Parks MBE, from Eaglescliffe, and author and comedian Bob Mortimer, from Middlesbrough, feature in a new MIMA exhibition, People Powered: Stories from the River Tees. The pair, who are both honorary graduates, are part of a series of photographic portraits from the National Portrait Gallery on display at MIMA until 7 January 2024. Adele has featured in the University's In Conversation series. Watch her interview with Dr Mansoor Soomro as they chat about her Teesside roots, writing and her successful career here.
The pair, who are both honorary graduates, are part of a series of photographic portraits from the National Portrait Gallery on display at MIMA until 7 January 2024. Adele has featured in the University's In Conversation series. Watch her interview with Dr Mansoor Soomro as they chat about her Teesside roots, writing and her successful career here.
If you would like to view the latest books and podcasts from alumni authors, or feature in Bookshelf, visit tees.ac.uk/sections/alumni/bookshelf.cfm