A new novel by writer Hema Macherla is published next month in the UK, after getting top billing on the chat-show Richard and Judy.

Breeze from The River Manjeera was picked as a finalist on the program’s book competition, reaching the final 26 out of 44,000 entries, an incredible achievement for a book written in the author’s second language.

Hema was was born in a village in the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India. She came to the UK in 1977 speaking very little English. She lives with her husband in London and has two grown up children.

Breeze from the River Manjeera tells the story of the engaging Neela who arrives in England as a bride for the brutal Ajay Ajay. The life that awaits Neela is a far cry from her hopes and expecta expectations. Treated reated worse than a servant by her in-laws, and unwanted by her husband, she finally escapes in search of independence and freedom.

The novel explores in a personal, moving way the issues around the deep-rooted traditions of arranged marriages and the struggle for young women like Neela to find love and happiness.

Ms Macherla has published 25 short stories and a number of articles in Indian magazines. This is her first novel.

The book is published by Linen Press and releases on 30th October.

Linen Press is a publishing company run by women, for women, to “publish writers with innovative voices”. The company is partly focused on submissions from emerging writers, writers from minority groups and writers from outside the UK.

Media contact: Lynn Michell