House Number 12, Block Number 3: A Conversation with Novelist Sana Balagamwala

<p>Join us in conversation with Pakistani-American&nbsp;novelist Sana Balagamwala about her debut novel, <em>House Number 12, Block Number 3</em> published by <a href="http://hiddenshelfpublishinghouse.com/" target="_blank">Hidden Shelf Publishing</a>.&nbsp;<em>House Number 12, Block Number 3 </em>follows the story of Nadia as she mourns the loss of her father, Haji Rahmat, and grapples with both the national anxieties of political turmoil in Pakistan and Nadia's personal struggles in the wake of sexual assault. Alongside its captivating human characters, <em>House Number 12,Block Number 3</em>, as suggested by its title, brings to life furniture, architecture, geography, and the house itself, to tell a story of one family and the house that attempts to watch over them amidst personal and political turmoil. <em>House Number 12, Block Number 3</em> can be purchased from <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/house-number-12-block-number-3/9781735414577" target="_blank">www.bookshop.org</a> to support independent bookstores, or from Barnes and Noble and Amazon. SWANA collective members Rana Sharif and Soraya Zarook speak with Sana about what writing means to her, what inspired this wonderful novel, and the artistic choices that created her unforgettable characters.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sanabalagamwala.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Sana Balagamwala</strong></a> grew up in Karachi, Pakistan. She studied English Literature and Language at the University of Southern California, and has a Master’s in Education from Loyola Marymount University. She is also pursuing a Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge. <em>House Number 12, Block Number 3</em> is her first novel. Before embarking on her writing career, she taught Middle School History and Literature. Sana lives in Los Angeles with her husband and 2 children. She can be reached at her website: <a href="https://www.sanabalagamwala.com/" target="_blank"><u>www.sanabalagamwala.com/</u></a>. She is also on Instragram: <a href="https://www.instagram