Sneha Lees
30 Seconds with
Who are you?
For this 30 second profile, I'd say I am a storyteller who is mostly interested in work that involves writing, filmmaking and acting.
What do you write?
I am currently writing a screenplay adaptation of my memoir (Affirm Press, 2021) as well as my next novel. I recently finished up an essay for the Black Inc. anthology, Growing Up Indian in Australia. Other than that, I’ve written a number of freelance articles.
Why do you write?
To remember, mainly. And to explore.
And because I can't help it.
Best writing advice?
It's impossible to narrow down to the best. However, I will say that the most recent reflection that unlocked something for me, came from an interview with Daniel Kaluuya: "I'm not trying to be good or great. I'm trying to be honest.”
How has MARION helped you?
Immensely. HARDCOPY 2019 was instrumental in getting my first book off the ground. I haven't done a better writers program for people with books in them.
Currently reading?
Creative Quest by QuestLove and Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren. And about 15 others, all at once. It’s the ADHD.
Which living author would you like to champion and why?
I'd like to champion Dr. Raju Adhikari. Not only has he contributed a great deal to multiculturalism in Victoria, he is now writing a book about it. Raju is also my best friend's dad, whom I've known for 17 years and I want to cheer him on for his bravery to go from writing scientific papers/articles to an entire manuscript around his personal experiences, beliefs and ideas regarding cultural diversity in Australia.
Affirm Press, 2021
Sneha Lees (Ruhi Lee) writes on Boon Wurrung land. Her articles, poetry and book reviews have been featured in The Guardian, ABC Life, SBS Voices, South Asian Today and The Big Issue among other publications. In 2019, she was a recipient of the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund and her manuscript was shortlisted for the Penguin Random House Write It Fellowship. In 2020, she was one of the commissioned writers for the Multicultural Arts Victoria's Shelter program. Good Indian Daughter is her first memoir.
