Zahid Gamieldien is an author, screenwriter, editor and writing tutor. His debut novel is All the Missing Children (Ultimo Press), which was optioned to be developed into a television series.
His short fiction has been published in literary journals including Overland, Meanjin, K
His screenwriting has been listed for awards, and as an editor and writing tutor he’s helped several authors get their work into print. Most recently, he received funding to undertake a residency at Varuna House and a major grant from Create NSW to complete his second novel.
Zahid is represented by Caitlan Cooper-Trent of Curtis Brown. You can find him on Instagram and Linktree, which will include announcements about upcoming events.
Also available from other bookstores in paperback, e-book and audiobook formats.
All the Missing Children is a literary mystery-drama novel with creeping supernatural elements.
Ilene, a working class woman, is struggling to survive and desperate to reconnect with her children, Jack and Lonnie, in the aftermath of a near-fatal tragedy. But her children vanish, setting off a chain reaction within the community.
Suspended detective Omar helps out with the investigation, uncovering disquieting clues, but he keeps getting pulled away by a dangerous cold case.
Benji, a recovering addict, finds peace by breeding lorikeets and caring for his mother, only to have his clean life upended by a stranger’s menacing threat.
Nera, a city lawyer grieving on a country farm, wants to find out who killed one of her animals and is faced with increasingly strange and unsettling answers.
In this gripping tale of human frailty and the other-worldly, each of the characters must confront the mystery of what really happened to Jack and Lonnie.
Praise for All the Missing Children:
“Gamieldien’s prose is clear-eyed about the manifestations of trauma, visceral and uncanny in its observations of everyday life[.] All the Missing Children is a tense, portentous book… a polyphonic novel teeming with disparate experiences, each of them key to unlocking the mystery of the two children’s disappearance and those before them.” Sonia Nair, Meanjin
“This book is an exceptionally eerie read, the kind that sends chills down your spine with its ever-present sense of foreboding… The author’s ability to immerse you in each storyline from the outset is truly impressive—I was so captivated that I often wasn’t ready to transition to the next narrative. The writing is brilliant, filled with such palpable tension that I found myself holding my breath through much of it.” Sammy thebookninja_, Goodreads
“It’s a compelling and haunting read, beautifully written. It presents like a crime mystery about two missing siblings but quickly becomes a deeper, more unsettling story about how trauma and loss affect a whole community… I really enjoyed this and don’t know why I hadn’t heard about this book sooner. If you enjoy a literary read I think you will enjoy this too. I couldn’t put it down! A wonderful book.” booksadaisyes, Instagram
“A stunning read that transcends genre… Since finishing it I have been obsessing over how all the parts fit together. There are no easy answers. The interludes are a link in the chain, which I recommend re-reading after finishing. A must-read for lovers of literary fiction who are hungry for more than just another story.” Alessandro, Goodreads
You can contact Zahid using this form, although please note that he is only taking on a limited number of new editing clients.