Nicola Dinan
Nicola Dinan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 March 1994 |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Notable work | Bellies (2023) |
| Awards | Polari First Book Prize |
Nicola Dinan (born 15 March 1994) is a British-Malaysian novelist. Her debut novel Bellies (2023) won the Polari First Book Prize.
Early life
Dinan was born in British Hong Kong to a British father and a Chinese-Malaysian mother and grew up between there and Kuala Lumpur,[1][2] where she attended an international school.[3] Dinan began her studies in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, and "ended up specialising in the history and philosophy of science".[4] She then pursued a law conversion and subsequently worked at a law firm reviewing contracts.[5][6] While penning her debut novel, Dinan joined the Faber Academy's Writing a Novel workshop.[7][8]
Career
In March 2022, Doubleday won a nine-way auction to publish Dinan's debut novel Bellies in summer 2023.[9][10] Starting the writing process in 2020, she had initially written Bellies as a short story titled "early morning single bed".[11][12] Set in the late 2010s, the novel explores how its main character Ming's transition impacts her interpersonal relationships rather than portraying the process as "highly individual".[13] Ahead of its release, Element Pictures optioned the rights to adapt Bellies for television.[14] Bellies was shortlisted for the 2021 Mo Siewcharran Prize,[15] won the 2024 Polari First Book Prize[16] and was a finalist for the 2024 Annual Lambda Literary Awards Transgender Fiction Prize.[17]
In 2024, Dinan joined Royal Holloway, University of London as a tutor on the university's Creative Writing MA course.[7] She reunited with Doubleday[18] for the publication of her second novel Disappoint Me in 2025.[19][20] Disappoint Me was a Service95 Book Club pick[21] and won the inaugural New Adult Book Prize.[22]
In 2025, Dinan was selected as a judge for the Polari Prize, but resigned in protest against the inclusion of trans-exclusionary activist John Boyne in the longlist.[23]
Dinan is in the process of writing her third novel and first work of speculative fiction, set in 1987 Hong Kong.[24]
Awards
- 2025 New Adult Book Prize
- 2024 Polari First Book Prize
- 2024 Annual Lambda Literary Awards Transgender Fiction Prize (finalist)
- 2021 Mo Siewcharran Prize (shortlisted)
Bibliography
- Bellies (2023)
- Disappoint Me (2025)
References
- ^ Silvers, Isabella (23 October 2023). "Nicola Dinan: "Racial identity is so contingent on time and place"". Mixed Messages. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Sproull, Patrick (13 July 2023). "Nicola Dinan: "Trans people should have the freedom to be pieces of shit too"". i-D. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Nicola Dinan Does Not Disappoint". Mulazine. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ Tobin, Katie. "Nicola Dinan on her debut novel, Bellies". The London Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ Smith, Serena (14 December 2023). "Nicola Dinan: Getting to know the Dazed 100 writer". Dazed. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Alexander, Martha (7 February 2025). "Nicola Dinan: "I Want to Offer Complex Characterisations of Trans People"". AnOther. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ a b Olivia Emily (29 November 2024). "Nicola Dinan: 'I Hope My Writing Always Speaks To Something Very Human'". Country and Town House. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Writing a Novel Success Stories". Faber Academy. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Bayley, Sian (21 March 2022). "Doubleday snaps up 'tender' debut novel by Dinan in five-way auction". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Power, Chris (2 July 2023). "Bellies by Nicola Dinan review — a trans love story with shades of Sally Rooney". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Robert Lee Brewer (2 August 2023). "Nicola Dinan: On Trusting the Process to Find Writing Success". Writers' Digest. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Hall, Jake (11 September 2023). "'You can literally just do it': Nicola Dinan on intimacy, representation and Bellies". Huck. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Rorison, Alex (3 June 2024). "Very human problems with Nicola Dinan". Hunger. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Yossman, KJ (13 December 2022). "'Normal People' Producer Element Pictures to Adapt Nicola Dinan's 'Bellies' for TV". Variety. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Wood, Heloise (10 September 2021). "Mo Siewcharran Prize shortlist revealed". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Olivia Emily (19 November 2024). "Nicola Dinan, Jon Ransom & Sarah Hagger-Holt Win The 2024 Polari Prizes". Country and Town House. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
- ^ Lou, Jo (5 June 2024). "Meet the Transgender Fiction Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Electric Literature. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Snow, Maia (2 September 2024). "Doubleday acquires rights to new novel from Bellies author Nicola Dinan". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Teo, Sharlene (2 January 2025). "Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan review – a fresh take on modern love". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ Diamond-Rivlin, Alexandra (23 January 2025). "Nicola Dinan's new novel is a study in heteronormativity". Dazed. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "The Must-Read Books To Have On Your Radar In 2025". Service95. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Nicola Dinan's Disappoint Me wins the New Adult Book Prize at Cheltenham Literature Festival". The Bookseller. 20 October 2025.
- ^ EDITOR (12 August 2025). "Authors and judges withdraw from Polari Prize after inclusion of self-proclaimed "terf" author". Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ^ Doyle, Martin (11 January 2025). "Author Nicola Dinan: 'Working as a lawyer taught me how much can turn on a single word'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2025.