Nadia Cassim, who attended the Bosberg Book Writing residency at Paulet House in KwaNojoli in the Eastern Cape in 2023, announces the publication of her debut novel Not Another Samoosa Run!.
‘Indian women expire at twenty-five.’
‘We aren’t milk. We can’t be spoiled.’
Tasneem, a 27-year-old psychology student, is determined to rebuild her life after the devastating loss of her newborn and a painful divorce. But in her close-knit Muslim-Indian community in Gauteng, the stigma of divorce weighs heavily, and her mother insists on finding her a new husband – even if it means orchestrating a traditional ‘samoosa run’.
Aadil is a bachelor hiding a life-changing secret. Under pressure from his devoted mother, he agrees to meet Tasneem. When this encounter sparks an unexpected connection, they strike a deal: a pretend engagement to keep their families off their backs.
But as make-belief turns to something dangerously real, Tasneem and Aadil must confront old wounds and the truth that could tear their worlds- and hearts- apart.
Nadia Cassim is a writer, artist and financial advisor. She graduated with honours from the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Witwatersrand before pursuing fine art. Her paintings have been exhibited in two solo shows and showcased at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill. In 2023, her artwork When Blood Ties Become Blood Chains was featured in the Ake Review.
In 2012, she founded IRTIQA, a modern Muslim women’s magazine, which she led for eight years before focusing on writing. Her short fiction has appeared in anthologies published by Modjaji Books, Brittle Paper, Umuofia Arts and Books Festival, Mirari Press and in Short. Sharp. Stories.
The Bosberg Book Writing residency, named after the beautiful mountains adjacent to Paulet House, is presented in partnership with various prominent South African publishers. We offer support to emerging writers of novels or nonfiction books. Learn more about the Bosberg Book Writing residency here.
