Born in India on her family farm close to the Himalayas, Jasbinder Bilan moved to Nottingham when she was one-and-a-half years old. She was a teacher before studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She draws on her family memories of India to weave her magical children’s stories. Her first book, Asha & the Spirit Bird, won the Costa Children’s Book Award in 2019. Tamarind and the Star of Ishta was published in September 2020.

Find out more about Jasbinder at her website: www.jasbinderbilan.co.uk

This interview is pre-recorded and will be released on our YouTube channel at 7pm on December 8th. Tune in then and join in the live chat, or watch any time afterwards at your leisure.