During the many wars that he has lived through, Qais and his family travelled around their country in order to stay alive. Sometimes their intention was to leave their homeland; sometimes it was only to escape from the violence that broke out to safety nearby.

In these maps, you can see his home and the paths of his family's journeys.

Robin Robertson will be reading from his selected works alongside Frank McGuinness

Set in Hampstead in the sweltering heat of the summer of 1989, Meeting the English follows Struan Roberts, a Scot newly arrived in London and bound for the house of Phillip Prys, a literary giant who has suffered a massive stroke and who now needs constant care. To Struan, the leafy streets of Hampstead and the excruciating heat of London are entirely foreign, as are the strange and careless people who live there. It is to be a life-changing summer . . .

Author Qais Akbar Omar has selected the pictures that best capture the places and people in his book, A Fort of Nine Towers. He takes us from the fort itself across the stunning countryside of Afghanistan, via monuments destroyed in wars and thriving markets.

For 24 hours only, we're offering a 30% discount on Helen Oyeyemi's novels White is for Witching and Mr Fox and Sunjeev Sahota's debut novel Ours Are the Streets.

It’s a bright afternoon in 1938 and Mary Foxe is in a confrontational mood. St John Fox, celebrated novelist, hasn’t seen her in six years. He’s unprepared for her afternoon visit, not least because she doesn’t exist. He’s infatuated with her. But he also made her up.

“You’re a villain,” she tells him. “A serial killer . . . can you grasp that?”

Will Mr Fox meet his muse’s challenge, to stop murdering his heroines and explore something of love? What will his wife Daphne think of this sudden change in her husband? Can there be a happy ending – this time?

Get 30% off Mr Fox

Sunjeev Sahota's first novel, Ours Are the Streets, was published by Picador in 2011. He is currently working on his second novel about a group of illegal immigrants living in Sheffield. 'I think – I hope – I’m around halfway through a first draft,' he says.

Here's his life in books.

Gatsby-fever is sweeping the nation, with 1920’s-themed club nights, hairstyles, fashion and music everywhere in the media. 

This week , Baz Lurhmann’s hugely anticipated take on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story of obsessive love, empty lives, jaw-dropping wealth and killer parties is finally released. 

Picador is thrilled to be involved in the excitement, publishing the official film-tie in edition featuring an exclusive interview with the director. 

We have a pair of tickets to the press (not red carpet) screening, taking place TOMORROW, May 15th at 7 pm, to give away.

Read on for more details