“Lavishly written and full of love of the natural world” - The Sunday Times
“Remains with the reader long after the last page has been turned” - The Guardian
“A writer who mixes verse and prose to tell stories that stick” - The Times
“I was moved and uplifted” - Michael Rosen
Hello! I’m Sita.
Welcome to this patchwork of storytelling. I write novels, plays and short stories. Lots of them are about the rites of passage moments in life.
My debut novel ‘Artichoke Hearts’ won the Waterstones Book Prize. Since then my stories have been honoured by national and international awards, translated into many different languages and are endorsed by Amnesty International.
Have a look around this site to find a collage of inspiratuons including: podcasts, reviews and events. I write stories across genres that explore themes of culture, history, environmental protection, refugee rights, identity and belonging.
The young protagonists you’ll discover in my work are full of heart and empathy. They dare to ask the big questions facing our world today. They are seeking answers and are not afraid to challenge injustice.
Latest News
At Waterstones in London’s Piccadilly
On March 21st, I am thrilled to be heading to Waterstones in Piccadilly to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. I was lucky enough to win this award for my debut novel Artichoke Hearts back in 2011. I look forward to meeting all the other previous winners and celebrating with the 2024 nominees too.
‘What an honour it is to be invited to be a Fellow of the Society of Authors, a trade union that shines a light on protecting the rights of authors, illustrators and literary translators. On panels, at events and when posing my own questions I have experienced firsthand the wide-ranging ways in which the Society of Authors is a helping hand, support and champion in an industry that can often feel precarious.’
Upcoming Events
National Literacy Trust - Primary Conference 2024, 21/03/2024
ELSA France - Presentations and workshops at the English Language Schools Association in Paris. 23/03/2024.
English & Media Centre - Reading and Writing for Pleasure – An EMC Teacher Conference, 07/06/2024
Writing Room - ‘Writing for Children / YA’ online course for adults. Commencing 17/09/2024.