If you are in London, we highly recommend you attend this conversation with writers Musih Tedji Xaviere and Kelechi Okafor talking about Musih’s debut novel These Letters end in Tears. The event will be held on June 13 at Battersea Bookshop.

Musih Tedji Xaviere is a Cameroonian fiction writer based in the UK. Her debut novel, These Letters End in Tears, won the 2021 Pontas and JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize. LGBTQ Reads has called it “A Most Anticipated Title of 2024”.

Set in a country where being gay is punishable by law, These Letters End in Tears is the forbidden love story between a Christian girl and a Muslim girl. When Fatima crosses paths with Bessem, the instant attraction between the two propels them into a life-changing romance. Despite the criminalisation of same-sex relationships in Cameroon, Fatima and Bessem persevere in their love. But one day tragedy strikes, and Fatima disappears.

Thirteen years later, Bessem is now a university professor, keeping her sexuality secret but bonding with her closeted friend Jamal and the queer community around her. But Fatima still haunts her. A chance encounter with people from her past, pushes Bessem to finally go after the truth of her lover’s whereabouts. Told through unsent letters, These Letters End in Tears charts the different ways that love can persevere, despite the odds.

Tickets for the event will be £7 each, and includes a complimentary glass of wine/soft drink and 15% discount on any books purchased on the evening.

Date: June 13, 2024

Time: 6:30 – 8 PM

Location: Battersea Bookshop, London, UK

Get tickets here.