Awais Khan is a writer and editor based in Lahore. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario and the University of Durham, he has studied Creative Writing at the prestigious Faber Academy in London. His work has appeared in the Aleph Review, The Hindu, Missing Slate Magazine (he was also their Author of the Month), Daily Times, MODE, The News International. He teaches creative writing through the Writing Institute in Pakistan and has a large student base both in Pakistan and abroad. He has conducted lectures on creative writing at Durham University, American University of Dubai, Canadian University of Dubai, United States Educational Foundation of Pakistan, Kinnaird College, Hajvery University.
Awais has also been featured in various magazines, TV and Radio channels. His interviews have appeared in the Khaleej Times, HELLO! Pakistan and Shots Blog UK to name a few and his TV and Radio interviews have appeared on Voice of America, Dubai Eye, Samaa TV, Cambridge Radio, Luton Radio, Uxbridge Radio, Indus TV, PTV Home and City42. He has had events at Capital Crime, Foyles Charing Cross, Waterstones Cambridge, Waterstones Durham, Hillingdon Libraries, Dubai Literary Salon, Dolcino Loughborough, the Emirates Book Fair and the Sharjah Book Fair.
His first novel, IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS, was published by The Book Guild in July 2019, by Simon & Schuster India in December 2019 and by Liberty Publishing Pakistan in April 2020 to much critical acclaim. Stunning reviews have appeared in Khaleej Times, Hello!, Free Press Journal, Dawn, The News International, Daily Times, Outlook Magazine, Newsline, Daily Telegraph (India), Pakistan Today and the novel has been hailed by bestselling authors and journalists including Faiqa Mansab, Soniah Kamal, Anita Chaudhuri, Miranda Husain, A.A. Chaudhuri and many more. IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS was acquired by Hera Books in 2022, and was published in Autumn 2022.
Audio rights for IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS were acquired by Isis Audio and published in 2021.
His second novel, NO HONOUR, was published by Orenda Books and Isis Audio in Summer 2021, to huge international critical acclaim. His third book SOMEONE LIKE HER was published by Orenda Books and Isis Audio in August 2023. SOMEONE LIKE HER was published by Simon & Schuster India in December 2023 to enormous critical acclaim, including reviews from Cosmopolitan, Eastern Eye and Pakistan Observer.
IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE, a sequel to IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS, was published by Hera Books in October 2024.
In a further exciting development, UK-based Kids Fight Productions is developing a feature film based on Awais Khan‘s debut novel “In The Company of Strangers,” marking the company’s first narrative project following its acclaimed documentary work. https://variety.com/2025/film/news/pakistani-novel-in-the-company-of-strangers-film-adaptation-1236555524/
Awais’s new novel THE WOMEN OF WIND AND DUST will be published by Orenda Books in Spring 2027. Karen Sullivan, founder and publisher at Orenda, says: “I love it! So much emotional depth, and I love the world he has created. It’s moving and harrowing, but the story concludes hopefully. It has a real A Thousand Splendid Suns feel to it.”
Awais is hard at work on a two other novels, so watch this space…