On 15th October 2024, award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan visited Croydon High School to speak with students about the inspiration for her stories, as well as her journey in becoming a successful writer.
Known for her vivid storytelling, rich imagery and highly immersive novels like Asha and the Spirit Bird and Tamarind & the Star of Ishta, Bilan shared insights into her creative process and what it takes to turn a passion for writing into a full-time career.
During her visit, Bilan emphasised that persistence and a love for storytelling are key ingredients for any aspiring writer.
She spoke about her own journey and how she was quite inspired by her grandma, both the storyteller in her house but also someone who always told Bilan to follow her dreams.
“And my dream when I was little was always to be a writer,” Bilan adds, reflecting on her early aspirations.
Bilan studied English at university and always loved reading books.
After studying English, she embarked on a career in journalism, where she explained, “I really wanted to be a radio presenter during this part of my life.”
She began by writing about various dance events in a magazine column; however, she later decided to pursue her passions for both English and teaching by becoming a secondary school English teacher.
Bilan also talked about the different aspects of being a full-time writer too. She says, “There are a lot of different processes that go on at the same time: You could be planning your next story, writing your current one and editing a different one all at the same time!”
There is also a lot of travel involved, where she gets the opportunity to host events and perform at festivals, as well as talk on the radio too.
Finally, Bilan illustrated how she often uses a personal experience or something real as the base of her stories.
She shares that in her novel Tamarind & the Star of Ishta, “Tamarind is sort of like me in the sense that she was born in India and then moved to the UK.
“It's really linked to that whole wonder of finding out who you truly are.
“It’s about belonging and identity.”
For students hoping to follow in her footsteps, Bilan’s visit was both enlightening and inspiring.
As she concluded, she reminded the young audience that if you have a story to tell, you should never be afraid to share it because our words have the power to connect and inspire others in ways that we would never imagine.
Her visit left students buzzing with ideas and eager to put pen to paper, proving that the magic of storytelling is still very much alive.