Naomi Ishiguro
British author
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Naomi Ishiguro (born 1992) is a British author. She has published two books: a short story collection Escape Routes (2020) and her debut novel Common Ground (2021). The first book in her upcoming fantasy trilogy, The Rainshadow Orphans, is publishing in 2026.
Naomi Ishiguro | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992 (age 33–34) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Author |
| Father | Kazuo Ishiguro |
| Relatives | Shizuo Ishiguro (grandfather) |
Early life and education
Ishiguro was born in 1992[1] and grew up in Golders Green, North London,[2] the daughter of Japanese-British Nobel-prize writer Kazuo Ishiguro.[3] Her mother Lorna is a Scottish social worker from Glasgow.[1][4]
Ishiguro attended South Hampstead High School[5] and then Westminster School for sixth form.[6] Before pursuing writing, she wanted to be an actress.[6] She studied English at University College London, and later graduated with a master's degree in creative writing from the University of East Anglia.[7][8]
Prior to her career as an author, Ishiguro worked as a bookseller and bibliotherapist at Mr. B's Emporium in Bath.[9][10]
Career
Escape Routes (2020)
Ishiguro's debut short story collection, Escape Routes, was published in 2020 by Tinder Press.[11] The book consists of eight short stories and a novella.
It was reviewed positively by The Times, describing the stories as "winsomely written and engagingly quirky".[12] However, the novella "The Rat Catcher", while starting strong, was criticised as being "overextended".[13]
Common Ground (2021)
The following year, Ishiguro's debut novel, Common Ground, was published by Tinder Press.[14] The story follows a cross-cultural friendship between two teenage boys: Stan, who is struggling with bullying; and Charlie, a Romany boy.[6] The first half of the novel takes place in a fictional Surrey town in 2003, when the boys first become friends.[15] Nine years pass, and the remainder of the book follows Stan and Charlie as adults in London.[16]
The project came out of the "shock, fear and grief" Ishiguro felt following the EU referendum,[1] and her frustrations around the lack of publicly-owned land in England.[17][18] It was also inspired by her time living in Bath, including an encounter with a man with a broken bike by a canal, and the buskers she befriended at open-mic nights.[6]
The novel was recommended by the New Statesman, calling it a "generous and disarming tale ... just the right side of sentimental"[19] and Emma Lee-Potter of The Independent described the story as "thought-provoking and beautifully observed".[20] It was named as one of Grazia's best books of 2021.[21] Following the release of the novel, the Southbank Centre hosted an evening in conversation with Ishiguro and her father, Kazuo Ishiguro.[22]
The Rainshadow Orphans (upcoming, 2026)
Her next novel, The Rainshadow Orphans, is to be published in 2026 by Simon & Schuster. It is the first book in a fantasy trilogy, inspired by Japanese folklore.[23]
Personal life
As of 2022, Ishiguro lives in Belsize Park.[24]
Works
Novels
- Common Ground (2021)
- The Rainshadow Orphans (upcoming, 2026)[23]
Short fiction
- Escape Routes (2020)
- "A Proper Couple" (2020)[25]
- "The Estate Agent" (Banshee Press, 2021)[26]
- "Why can't we see him?" (Writers Mosaic)[27]