Nicola Dinan

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Nicola Dinan
Born (1994-03-15) 15 March 1994 (age 31)
Years active2020–present

Nicola Dinan (born 15 March 1994) is a British-Malaysian novelist. Her debut novel Bellies (2023) won the Polari First Book Prize.

Contents

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 won the 2024 Polari First Book Prize. [15] It was also previously shortlisted for the 2021 Mo Siewcharran Prize [16] and later a Lambda Literary Award. [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 was shortlisted for the inaugural New Adult Book Prize. [22]

Dinan is in the process of writing her third novel and first work of speculative fiction set in 1987 Hong Kong. [23]

Bibliography

References

  1. Silvers, Isabella (23 October 2023). "Nicola Dinan: "Racial identity is so contingent on time and place"". Mixed Messages. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  2. 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.
  3. "Nicola Dinan Does Not Disappoint". Mulazine. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  4. Tobin, Katie. "Nicola Dinan on her debut novel, Bellies". The London Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  5. Smith, Serena (14 December 2023). "Nicola Dinan: Getting to know the Dazed 100 writer". Dazed. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. Alexander, Martha (7 February 2025). "Nicola Dinan: "I Want to Offer Complex Characterisations of Trans People"". AnOther. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. "Writing a Novel Success Stories". Faber Academy. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. Bayley, Sian (21 March 2022). "Doubleday snaps up 'tender' debut novel by Dinan in five-way auction". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. 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.
  11. Robert Lee Brewer (2 August 2023). "Nicola Dinan: On Trusting the Process to Find Writing Success". Writers' Digest. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. Hall, Jake (11 September 2023). "'You can literally just do it': Nicola Dinan on intimacy, representation and Bellies". Huck. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. Rorison, Alex (3 June 2024). "Very human problems with Nicola Dinan". Hunger. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. Yossman, KJ (13 December 2022). "'Normal People' Producer Element Pictures to Adapt Nicola Dinan's 'Bellies' for TV". Variety. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  15. 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.
  16. Wood, Heloise (10 September 2021). "Mo Siewcharran Prize shortlist revealed". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  17. Lou, Jo (5 June 2024). "Meet the Transgender Fiction Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Electric Literature. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  18. Snow, Maia (2 September 2024). "Doubleday acquires rights to new novel from Bellies author Nicola Dinan". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. Teo, Sharlene (2 January 2025). "Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan review – a fresh take on modern love". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  20. Diamond-Rivlin, Alexandra (23 January 2025). "Nicola Dinan's new novel is a study in heteronormativity". Dazed. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  21. "The Must-Read Books To Have On Your Radar In 2025". Service95. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  22. "'Standout' New Adult Book Prize shortlist reflects 'wealth of talent' in the industry". The Bookseller . 28 August 2025.
  23. 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.