Shorelines congratulates Zahid Hussain on the successful publication and launch of his novel 'The Curry Mile' under the Suitcase Books imprint. With a capacity crowd of 170 people attending the recent launch and enquiries about the novel on an international scale, 'The Curry Mile' looks set to be a roaring and deserved success, a fantastic way to launch a new publishing venture.

Suitcase Press is set on publishing high quality fiction from writers of the UK. Conscious of the timidity of mainstream fiction approaches to black writing, they are resolved to innovate form, foster writers' growth and promote black writing to a national readership. And their unique model of development combines mentoring and competitions with hothouse workshops and publishing.

Suitcase Press is not just a publishing house. It is also a brokerage between black mentors and would be mentees. Mentors are established writers who have a real sympathy for their mentee`s work and who can push those writers with skill and insight to get the best from each writer. Great pains are taken to set up the right match. The combinations are sometimes surprising to outsiders, but the results speak for themselves.

Suitcase Press's competitions add a democratic element to the mix. The anonymity of competitions means unknown writers have as much chance of winning as the writer who is well connected and knows Who`s Who in publishing. The only thing that matters with a competitions is talent. Even the losers advance, because Suitcase Press endeavours to stay in touch with them and work to foster their development as much as that of the winners.

Suitcase Books Compeitions have already assisted the careers of numerous writers, including the last two winners of the Black First Chapter Competition, Valerie Mason John, whose novel, Borrowed Body was published in 2005 to glowing reviews; and Biram Mboob whose success in the competition in 2004 has spurred him on to focus on completing his novel. Biram was featured in the UK`s leading black writing magazine, Sable LitMag Autumn 2005 edition.

Suitcase Books run creative writing workshops in association with other organisations such as Cultureword to further boost writing and writers.

Shorelines and Suitcase Press are based in Manchester, UK where Shorelines has been in existence for six years. See www.shorelines.org.uk or for further information email admin@suitcasebooks.info