Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Shilpi Somaya Gowda is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of four novels. Her novels, which have been translated into over 30 languages and sold more than two million copies worldwide, are an insightful exploration of the complex relationships between family, culture and identity.

After graduating from UNC with a degree in Economics and International Studies, she began her career as an investment banker in New York, then earned an MBA from Stanford. After a decade in the business world, she began writing fiction, inspired by her time at an Indian orphanage during her “Travel/Study” summer. Her debut novel, Secret Daughter, tells the story of two families, one Indian and one American, who are bound by an adopted daughter. It has been optioned to be a feature film starring Priyanka Chopra and Sienna Miller.

Her latest novel, A Great Country, explores the American dream from the perspective of four different families in the aftermath of a violent encounter with the police. It was an instant #1 international bestseller, and was longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize and the New American Voices Award.