News

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I’ve never liked the gym, I’ve never been sporty; I was always picked last for school teams. I’ve done some running- mostly for my head. But for the last couple years I’ve been working with a personal trainer. (The first few s
Our beloved Milo. We are beyond sad to say that he has gone—tragically taken from us on Wednesday evening. He was my first boy cat, the most gentle soul. He was the most beautiful creature in all ways. We are devastated.
My new novel is coming out 6 February 2025 with the wonderful Peepal Tree Press. Here’s the cover courtesy #rmraffinity Richard Mark Rawlins 🙏 “LOOK AT YOU is a moving, sometimes shocking and sometimes funny account of a girl’s gr
BLACK ROCK book launch 15 years ago at Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London. Such excitement: mixing rum punch for all the guests, alive with hope and sense of a dream fulfilled— shared that night with the great and good. When you publ
Thanks to the extraordinary #doramois for this author pic. Always a challenge to make the magic happen, but this was a joyful, otherworldly experience. 🙏
Beautiful Reykjavik, you captured my heart a year ago @icelandwriters 🩵🩵🩵 We will be back
It happens suddenly. Life passing. A reminder not to waste a single drop of it 💕🙏
I’ve known Neel Mukherjee for more than 20 years. Today he took me for Doubles in Clapham North. Delicious- delicious-doubles. His novel CHOICE is published in April. An absolute force of a book; a beautiful, sad, unforgettable book. The charac
Magic happened at Hosking House Trust this morning as we dream up new plans for women writers and illustrators in need of a room of their own and time to create.
Paris, city of dreams, city of beauty; city of love. Today we celebrated Amelie’s 12th birthday, accidentally stumbled across the grocer in Montmartre used in the movie Amelie- which inspired her name. On the way here, a good natured French p
A lot can happen in three years. My big boy, LOLO. J’adore! 😊
I’ve been a fan of her work for so long—such beautiful paintings. Wonderful to meet at Southbank today, to walk with them along the river and feel the great pulse of the city. Two superstars. Happy to know you.
Writers writing here at Moniack. Beautifully cold and Christmassy. Let it snow 🌲
Twenty two years is no small amount of time. My heart is full, jittery. Booker prize winner announced tonight!
Great news just in—LOOK AT YOU, my collection of short stories, dated from 2001 to now will be published by Peepal Tree Press in 2024. I am overjoyed. The linked stories which are located inTrinidad and UK, explore themes of displacement, belon
Diwali memories from 2021. Happy Diwali wherever you might be, sending love and light and blessings to you all 💕
You can find me here two days a week at Exeter College, Oxford where I have the role of Royal Literary Fund Fellow, helping both graduates and undergraduates with their writing. Fellows can be found all over the country. It feels like good work. ht
Grape stuff. Some years there’s plenty, and always so sweet.
Final days in beloved Trinidad. Awesome to be part of launch for new location of Paperbased book store at Writer’s Centre in Port of Spain. Literary great and the good were there. Visit to family plot. Cousins together. Tears at the airport. Un
Tobago pilgrimage, nostalgia galore, Crown Point fest, pigeon point swim…ending with super visit to Andrea Hoffer’s gorgeous studio in Patience Hill. Tobago will always have a little piece of my heart.

Highlights

Live interview Walter Scott prize

Click the video to PLAY

19.00 19 May 2022

‘The pendulum has swung’: Why we female Trinidadian writers are having our moment

14.00 03 May 2022

Dreaming of striking it lucky, be it oil or a novel.

Amanda Smyth on what inspired Fortune, her novel on the Walter Scott Prize shortlist

17.28 April 28 2022

The Guardian view on Trinidad Writers

18.25 01 May 2022

Contact us.

Amanda is represented by Lucy Luck at Conville & Walsh Associates

If you have questions about my work, creative writing workshops, or a book club, please contact me by using the form below.