Zac O’Yeah
Zac O’Yeah used to work at a theatre in Gothenburg, Sweden – the harbor town where his detective novel “Once Upon A Time In Scandinavistan” (Hachette India, 2010; originally published in Swedish as “Tandooriälgen” in 2006) is set – and toured with a pop group until he retired early at 25 and came to India.
Since then he has published eleven books in Swedish, many of them important bestsellers – including the Gandhi-biography “Mahatma!” which was short-listed for the August Prize 2008 for best nonfiction book of the year. His most recent book in Swedish is the conspiracy thriller “Summan av kardemumman” (2009; paperback in 2010). He is currently working on a new thriller and a film project.
He is also a literary critic (rather grumpy at that), cultural feature writer and columnist, currently writing on crime fiction in Mint Lounge, the weekend supplement of the Indian edition of Wall Street Journal, and reviewing books in Deccan Herald’s Sunday supplement, and contributing occasionally to the travel magazine Outlook Traveller, plus now and then in major Swedish magazines and newspapers.
Zac O’Yeah is also a translator specializing in introducing selections of Indian writing – such as Pankaj Mishra, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and others – to Swedish readers. He has had a long involvement with theatre in as a playwright, director, designer, producer, and occasional performer.
Furthermore, he has been a cultural consultant for several bilateral exchange projects involving Swedish and Indian writers, translators, theatre workers and many others who toil in the fields of art. These projects have included, for instance, developing theatre for children and young people. Previous jobs include International Secretary of the Swedish Writers’ Union (1998-2000), dance lighting designer (1988-1992) and dish washer in a seedy pizzeria in Kungsportsavenyn (1986-1987).
Since then he has published eleven books in Swedish, many of them important bestsellers – including the Gandhi-biography “Mahatma!” which was short-listed for the August Prize 2008 for best nonfiction book of the year. His most recent book in Swedish is the conspiracy thriller “Summan av kardemumman” (2009; paperback in 2010). He is currently working on a new thriller and a film project.
He is also a literary critic (rather grumpy at that), cultural feature writer and columnist, currently writing on crime fiction in Mint Lounge, the weekend supplement of the Indian edition of Wall Street Journal, and reviewing books in Deccan Herald’s Sunday supplement, and contributing occasionally to the travel magazine Outlook Traveller, plus now and then in major Swedish magazines and newspapers.
Zac O’Yeah is also a translator specializing in introducing selections of Indian writing – such as Pankaj Mishra, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and others – to Swedish readers. He has had a long involvement with theatre in as a playwright, director, designer, producer, and occasional performer.
Furthermore, he has been a cultural consultant for several bilateral exchange projects involving Swedish and Indian writers, translators, theatre workers and many others who toil in the fields of art. These projects have included, for instance, developing theatre for children and young people. Previous jobs include International Secretary of the Swedish Writers’ Union (1998-2000), dance lighting designer (1988-1992) and dish washer in a seedy pizzeria in Kungsportsavenyn (1986-1987).
