Author Introduction 

Avni Doshi is an Indian-American novelist and art historian, best known for her debut novel Burnt Sugar (also published as Girl in White Cotton). Acclaimed for its sharp prose and exploration of mother-daughter relationships, memory, and trauma, Doshi quickly became one of the most prominent new voices in contemporary literature.

Early Life & Background

Avni Doshi was born in 1982 in New Jersey, USA, to Indian immigrant parents. She grew up in a Gujarati family, often traveling to Pune, India, where she later lived for several years. Doshi studied art history at Barnard College, Columbia University, and later pursued a master’s degree in history of art at University College London.

Writing Journey

Before becoming a novelist, Doshi worked as an art curator and writer in galleries and museums, particularly focusing on Indian contemporary art. She began writing fiction in her 20s, and her debut novel went through multiple drafts over seven years before publication.

Her first novel, Burnt Sugar (2020), explores themes of memory, betrayal, and the complexities of a fraught mother-daughter bond. The book received international recognition and established Doshi as a major literary figure.

Published Works

• Burnt Sugar (2020) – shortlisted for the Booker Prize and longlisted for the TATA Literature Live! First Book Award (Fiction).
  

Writing Style & Themes

Doshi’s writing is lyrical yet unflinching. She often explores memory, familial bonds, psychological wounds, and the subtle cruelties that shape relationships. Her prose is precise, layered, and emotionally raw.

Achievements & Recognition

• Shortlisted for the Booker Prize (2020) for Burnt Sugar.
• Her debut novel has been translated into more than 20 languages.
• Praised by critics worldwide for redefining narratives around motherhood and memory.
  

Beyond Writing

Doshi lives in Dubai, where she continues to write and raise her family. Alongside fiction, she has contributed essays and critical pieces on art and literature to various international publications.

Quotes / Philosophy

“I wanted to write a story that captured the ambivalence of love, especially within family—how intimacy can hold both tenderness and violence.”