Sunday 27 June 2:15-3:15 pm
Multi-Cultural Storytelling
This one-hour talk focused on writing about various cultures and different genders with empathy and sensitivity. Reshma drew upon her own writing and gave other examples to show how a writer can use his or her imagination and research to build an authentic world that the reader can relate to or discover afresh. It is all too easy to revert to cultural stereotypes and over-simplification and she suggested ways in which one can avoid this and also not fall into the trap of cultural appropriation. The talk was followed by a Q&A.

Saturday 8 May 3:00-4:00 pm
Delighted to be discussing truth and stereotypes in Asian writing with my fellow Whole Kahani writers at the Stay at Home! Literary Festival.

Here is the link to our lively discussion about being BAME and writing beyond and across a label.

Sunday December 20 | 6:00pm
As we bid adieu to what could only be described as a challenging, painful year, we looked ahead to a better, brighter future. We carried with us the hope, the love, the tenderness and also the pain we experienced since the Pandemic brutally altered our landscape. These variables are our wealth, a harvest that we will use to sow again a better tomorrow. We pondered over the meaning of wealth. What does wealth signify to us – is it a monetary or an emotional or experiential term? How do we receive it, how do we distribute it? We had an interactive session where I provided some writing prompts to help us create our own unique form of wealth. I also read from my poetry collection, A Dinner Party in the Home Counties and explored how different poems define wealth.

Friday October 16 | 8:00pm Zoom

Saturday 3 October 10.30-12.30 on Zoom.
Finding the Voice: poetry writing and performance with Reshma Ruia
In this writing workshop helped participants find their creative voice and prepared them for sharing their work with a larger audience. The workshop employed writing prompts on a wide variety of poetic/short story themes.
I discussed techniques used to enhance performance, such as intonation, tone, tempo, and volume.

18 July  – 17 August
Proud to feature in South Asian Heritage Month – celebrating and raising the profile of British South Asian history, arts, culture & heritage.

Thursday 11 June | 8:30 – 10:30pm
An online evening of poetry and stories. A webinar for people to sit back and enjoy this most ancient, and current, of arts from the comfort of their living rooms!

Online literary festival, founded by Dr Pragya Agarwal, bringing authors of South Asian origin together in a four-day celebration from 28-31 May.
All events are FREE and live via zoom. All timings are in British Standard Time (BST).
Join me on Saturday, 30th May, 3.30 to 4.30 pm when I will be discussing short stories with Jenny Bhatt and Sayantani Dasgupta. The event is free but please register via Eventbrite.

Poetry/Short story workshop for Performance, Altrincham Town Hall, 25 Market St, Altrincham WA14 1QT
Sunday 17 May | 2.00pm
This writing workshop helped attendees to find their creative voice and prepared them for sharing their work with a larger audience. The workshop employed writing prompts on a wide variety of poetic/short story themes. I discussed techniques used to enhance performance, such as intonation, tone, tempo, and volume.

Birmingham Hippodrome, Patrick Studio, Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TB
Thursday 20 February | 7.30 – 10.30 pm
Opening Verve 2020 was a Spoken Word Night to remember – a night of nights – a Spoken Word SUPER night.
Four of the best nights around the country were each asked to bring a poet of their choosing. Word Wise from Derby, hosted by Jamie Thrasivolou, brought Matthew Clegg. Verbose from Manchester, repped by Zoe Turner, featured Reshma Ruia. Milk from Bristol with host Maleika Kegode brought Birdspeed. Edinburgh’s Loud Poets and their host Kevin McLean presented Katie Ailes. The night was hosted by Verve’s Sean Colletti.

It was an honour to represent Manchester and Verbose at this acclaimed poetry festival and read from A Dinner Party in the Home Counties and see my book in such distinguished company.

The Poetry Café, 22 Betterton St, London WC2H 9BX | Monday 9 December | 7.00 – 9.00 pm
I was joined by guest poets Mimi Khalvati, Todd Swift, Rishi Dastidar and Yogesh Patel.

Fred’s Ale House, 843 Stockport Road, Manchester, M19 3PW | Monday 25 November | 7.30 – 10.00 pm
I read from my latest collection A Dinner Party in the Home Counties.

United Reformed Church, Park Road, Macclesfield SK11 7NA | Saturday 23 November 2019 | 6.00 – 8.00 pm
Six writers came to Macclesfield one day in Autumn, each in search of inspiration… Reading a commissioned story at a live literature project. I produced a new short story based on something related to Macclesfield and read it live at the festival.
‘Why six Manchester writers will be telling weird and wonderful tales in Macclesfield’ – Visit Manchester

Friday 1 November
Geoffrey Manton Building, MMU, Manchester
Panel participant ‘Writing in the Face of Doubt’.

The Talleyrand, 1030 Stockport Road, Levenshulme M19 3WX
Friday 18 October | 7.00 pm
Poetry reading in Levenshulme in aid of Safe Passage who are currently helping refugees find sanctuary.