St Leonards author Pirooz Jafari is a finalist for the Miles Franklin Literary Award for his first-ever literary fiction novel, Forty Nights.
Mr Jafari said it was a “surreal” and “humbling experience” to have his novel featured on a list of 11 authors for the $60,000 award celebrating literacy and stories about Australian life.
“Everyone has had something really profound to say about how they have connected with the book,” he said.
“It is very personal, but I must strongly emphasise that this is not a memoir. I feel it is anyone’s story.”
Mr Jafari’s novel is about migrants and their journey to Australia, and he said his story drew inspiration from people in his own life.
“This is a story that has evolved and has grown with me ever since childhood and a significant portion of the book is based on my own lived experience or the people around me,” he said.
“The recipes that are mentioned in the book are recipes that mum has taught me and those are the bits that have a very special place for me.”
The award, established by feminist and author Stella Maria Sarah Mile Franklin, was first presented in 1957. Mr Jafari said his novel was a “universal story” with a strong female presence.
“I feel that the heroines in my book, they’re not just some lonely figures scratched on a piece of paper, they are actually now recognised,” he said.
The Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlisted finalists will be revealed on June 20, and the winner will be announced on July 25.
