Novelist mixes two "literary lepers", football and comedy, in latest book (From Bucks Free Press)

Downley novelist mixes two "literary lepers", football and comedy, in latest book

3:20pm Friday 18th November 2011 in Interviews By Rebecca Cain

A JOURNALIST turned novelist Nasser Hashmi wrote 140,000 words of his new book and then threw it in the bin. Starting all over again and adding a comic twist it lead to him getting published by Troubador. He talks to Rebecca Cain about his début novel.

Hashmi, from Downley, juggles writing with looking after his two young children, Liyana, five and Mikail, two, while his wife, Shabina works full time.

He has been taking writing seriously since he gave up his full time job at the Bucks Free Press in 2003 where he worked for six years and he said the key is to just keep writing.

After he threw those first 140,000 words in the bin he persevered with Season of Sid and now seven years later it has been published.

He said: ""I just knew initially it wasn't working. I thought let's try and do it as a comic novel. I just moved on from there and thought this was for me."

The book follows Sid Karim, the first Asian football star in the Premier League. He is visited by his mentor- Ibrahim 'Gerd' Mullah- and handed a strange gift: a hand stitched football with a secret code.

It isn't until he meets Mullah again that Mullah tells Sid he is dying and he wants him to marry his daughter.

Hashmi said: "Football and comedy- they are like literary lepers. Even though these two things are very much part of popular culture they are not quite seen in the literary light."

But seven years after writing it he has had it published and is due to be released on December 1. The novel is dedicated to his mother, Khurshid Fatima, who passed away last year.

He said: "I hope the novel makes people laugh. It goes very fast. I would say it is like David Brent meets Agatha Christie."

He said he also wanted to link the glamour of the premiership with the sweatshops of India, Pakistan and China where the footballs are made.

Hashmi works one day a week on the sports desk at the Sunday Mirror and he said it is important to continue writing and working on other projects.

He is currently writing his fourth novel which is going to be part of a series of five novels, which explores the anxiety surrounding Islam and terrorism.

And the dad of two has sent 50 footballs around the country with the novel's name on it to football clubs to advertise his new book.

Hashmi will be launching his book on Saturday at Wycombe Wanderers FC, Adams Park at 1pm. There will be fun and prizes near the marquee. All novels on special offer for £5 prior to release date on December 1.

It will be available online and at all good book stores.