Dubai: Television news host Riz Khan has announced that he will launch his first novel at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on March 9.
Riz Khan, a popular television broadcaster worldwide who worked with the world's three leading news networks, BBC World, CNN International and Al Jazeera English, will be launching his novel entitled We Interrupt Our Programming… on the fourth day of the five-day festival.
Khan is recognised for his high-profile interviews with leading political figures, entertainment and sports icons and business tycoons. He is also the first Asian mainstream newsreader for an international network.
Life imitates art
The novel is a comedy drama that is set in the fast-paced world of international news and features and what happens behind the camera.
"It's fiction but it makes you wonder what really goes on behind the scenes at an international news channel," Khan said. "I never ceased to be amazed at how life imitates art, and I want the reader to be left intrigued, curious, and thinking about what they watch on their small screen. Above all, I want the reader to laugh!"
Festival director Isobel Abulhoul welcomed Khan's announcement. "It is a great honour to have Riz Khan introduce his first novel at the festival, and I am sure the book will take us all on an exhilarating adventure."
Besides the book launch, Khan will also be in conversation with two-time Pulitzer winning author Steve Coll on March 8 and BBC news legend Jeremy Bowen on March 9. Khan and Bowen will both participate in the media conflict panel on March 10.
