Tice Cin: Three Women of Cyprus

A few years ago, writer and artist Tice Cin won a Spread the Word award for literary fiction and it led to an Arvon Foundation writing course. There, Max Porter mentored her and she produced a manuscript that would become her debut novel, Keeping the House. Now, Porter has worked with Cin as her editor and the novel is being produced by independent publisher And Other Stories. ‘It’s one of those rare books you don’t doubt,’ says publisher Stefan Tobler. ‘From the North London gangsters to the members of a three-generational matriarchal household, every character rings true and compellingly human, and each line is a beautiful surprise.’ The novel focuses on Damla, a Turkish-Cypriot girl growing up in North London, and follows the extraordinary lives of three generations of women in the aftermath of the conflict in Cyprus. Damla’s absent father is involved in importing drugs from Turkey and his connections will have far-reaching effects on the lives of Damla and her mother. In this event, filmed live at the 2021 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cin discusses her remarkable debut with author Nadine Aisha Jassat.