Afternoon Tea with Shankari Chandran

A war that divided a nation. A secret that divided a family. A love that unities them all. 

From bestselling author Shankari Chandran, comes a sweeping saga, following the lies, misdemeanours, and loves of one family. Spanning three generations, three continents and seven decades the novel explores the ongoing impacts of the Sri Lankan civil war in a universal tale about love and finding a home to call your own. 

Richly evocative and timeless, this fictional retelling of rising ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka mirrors the political unrest which has characterised the country since its independence. Through the narrative Shankari shines a light on histories that are so often lost in the passing of time.

"I wrote Song of the Sun God because it's hard to erase the words of a novel, and the truth of the stories it contains. Sri Lanka, like many countries, rewrites its history and buries its truths with its bodies, somewhere deep in the jungle.' Shankari Chandran.

Through compelling characterisation, Shankar uses the journey of the family as they navigate war, migration, old loyalties and new beginnings as a way to provide commentary on some of our most pressing concerns of today: the rising threat of extremism, nationalism and authoritarian political leaders. 

Also warm and funny, Shankari explores the lengths we will go to protect our family and preserve our culture in a tale that is both heartwrenching and utterly human.

About Shankari

Shankari Chandran was raised in Canberra, Australia. She spent a decade in London, working as a lawyer in the social justice field. She eventually returned home to Australia, where she now lives with her husband, four children and their cavoodle puppy, Benji. She is the author of two previous novels, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and The Barrier.

About Ashley 

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the author of How to Be Australian and My Name Is Revenge, which was shortlisted for the 2019 Woollahra Digital Literary Awards and was a finalist in the 2018 Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award. Her writing appears in the Sydney Morning Herald, Overland, Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books, Australian Book Review, Kill Your Darlings and more. Ashley teaches creative writing and co-hosts James and Ashley Stay at Home, a podcast about writing, creativity and health. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico.