This episode is sponsored by Lloyd's Banking Group, serving Britain's communities and households for more than 250 years.

Hello and welcome to Women of Balls, where I, Katie Balls, talked to today as Trailblazers.

My guest today was born in Strasbourg to Turkish parents. She moved back to her homeland after her parents separated, spending her teenage years in Ankara,

Madrid and Istanbul.

She went on to study for a degree in international relations, a Masters in Gender and Women's

Studies and a PhD in Political Science.

Her writing is in both Turkish and English, and she has published

18 books, 11 of which are novels. Her work has been translated into 54 languages. She moved to

London over 10 years ago of her family after one of these novels, The Bastard of Istanbul,

led to her trial for insulting Turkishness. While she was eventually acquitted, she is now in a

self-imposed exile in the UK. From here, her novel, 10 Minutes 38 seconds in The Strange World

was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her work has become known for focusing on identity,

minority groups and breaking barriers on race, nationality, culture

and gender. On the controversy, her work is attracted, she has said, I learned to pay attention

to the readers and not to the madness because to be a writer in Turkey is a bit like being kissed

on one cheek and slept on the other. My guest today is Elise Sheffat.

What did I get wrong?

Nothing. Nothing. I'm very happy.

It's perfect.

Thank you.

That rarely happens.

So, Leif, many thanks for joining us today.

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