Who wasn’t there in the rain and the sun at Guy Hilton’s trendy gallery  for Farah Damji’s book launch last night?

Writers Farrukh Dhondy, Anthony Haden Guest, Nirpal Dhariwal and hacks Emine Saner of G2, and Michael Moran, editor of Times on-line mingled with Goldsmiths grads, art dealers such as Simon Hilton (the gallerist’s father) , West London socialites and the art stars the gallery is known to support. Performance artists Mark McGowan failed to break the world record for the most snails on his face but made a stomach churningly valiant attempt.

Add to the mix human rights solicitor Imran Khan, Tory spin advisor, Nic Careem and The Ark Press’ latest signed author, Nabil who was acquitted of any involvement in the terrorist bomb plot to blow up London with fertiliser in 2007 and you know the Ark Press is at the cutting edge of London’s literary world. Dhondy, an ex-Channel Four Commmissioning Editor counts amongst many other titles, such as writer ( Bikini Murders, Adultery) screenwriter ( Bandit Queen) and film maker ( Lucid Pictures) adds to his calling card the title of Commissioning Editor of The Ark Press for London, as announced by The Ark’s glamorous Anna Cohen, Managing Director.

Farah Damji read from her book, Try Me which was released yesterday in a midst of signing and smiling photographs. She read about her experience with addiction from a chapter called Inside Me,

“I was brought up to believe I can. I’ll take what I can and what I want. I don’t answer to your ownership. I will never belong to your world.”

A stark look into the mind of an addict in the throes of her addiction. Farah’s book is available on-line and at most bookstores.

For a free downloadable sample chapter from her crazy New York days ( and nights)  see http://try-me-the-book.com

BUY ME!

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£10 mainland UK / Europe including P + P

£15 Rest of the world, including P + P

Today in The Independent Alice Azania wrote about Farah Damji’s book launch on the 14th of July:

Book launch full of slimy characters
Farah Damji celebrates the launch of her autobiography Try Me on Tuesday (“Colourful” may be an understatement, the jailbird turned memoirist is famed for her eccentric antics, from high-profile liaisons to self-documented prison escapes). Appropriately, she has enlisted the help of wacky performance artist Mark McGowan, last seen burning effigies of the Prime Minister. “He’ll try to break the world record for how many snails he can have on his face at once,” we’re told. “Each one will represent someone in the book.”

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On the 14th of July the launch party for the Ark Press and for Farah Damji’s book, Try Me is going to be at Guy Hilton’s Gallery ‘The Best Gallery in the World’, with a special party piece by Mark McGowan. Did you get your invite yet? Darn postal strike!

The world record for the number of snails a person can keep on their face for one minute or more is s 25 and Mark is aiming to beat this. All that lovely slime, so good for one’s skin. Well we aren’t stopping there; each snail will be named and shamed with some of the beastly slug-like characters in the book! I wonder who they may be. . .are YOU one?

“Fame has its advantages. In the life I had left behind there were a lot of hangers on who leeched off my notoriety and clung on, as if some of the attention in the spotlight might pass through to them. They were burnt like errant moths to the flame. I did what I did to survive. I thought I was acting rationally but you can’t tell a crazy person she is crazy. Here, at HMP Holloway, I was left alone.” - An excerpt from Try Me

Forgive and Forget? Or roast in hell forever?
What is it like, having done all these things to start afresh and is acceptance hard? Do people forgive and forget and let ex-cons move on with their lives?

Farah’s book, Try Me, ‘holds nothing back’ revealing some excruciatingly honest and  personal details about sex, drugs and lies. Damji has embraced her mistakes, telling a story of a woman’s identity and one that many multicultural and even monocultural women women will embrace. Forgive her and let her move on or continue to burn her at the stake of our own unforgiving natures?
Get “Try Me” by Farah Damji from Amazon

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What we are working on right now. Well, boys and girls out there in publishing-land it is all hands on deck for Farah Damji’s book launch at the moment. The book is out next week, in case you didn’t already know…

Farah Damji, Try Me
Long before she went to prison for perverting the course of justice and theft, Farah Damji was making waves by being a coloured woman, living an anti-coloured woman’s life. Through her journalism for mainstream and ethnic media, she became well-known as the voice of considered dissent.

A powerful tale of sex, lies and destruction; provocative cultural journalist, ethical fashion designer and author Farah Damji has written a contemporary, truthful and edgy book of a woman’s journey to reclaim herself and her life. Shaped by her experience rather than her culture, it is everyone’s story to defy stereotypes.

“Explosive and compelling, this is a brilliantly written life story. Who hasn’t Farah Damji met on the dark side of London glittery media life and the New York arts and fashion worlds? She doesn’t pull her punches and doesn’t spare herself. One of my books of the year.” Madame Arcati, celebrity and media biz blogger and commentator.

The book is published on the 13th of July.
Get “Try Me” by Farah Damji from Amazon

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