#103: Samira Shackle, freelance writer and author

<p>Simon and Rachel speak with Samira Shackle, a freelance writer and author. Her first book, <a href="https://granta.com/products/karachi-vice/">“Karachi Vice”</a>, is a modern history of Pakistan’s largest city through the testimony of five ordinary citizens. It was chosen as a Radio 4 Book of the Week in February. She is the editor of the <a href="https://newhumanist.org.uk/"><em>New Humanist </em>magazine</a>, a quarterly journal of ideas, science and culture, and a regular contributor to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/01/trojan-horse-the-real-story-behind-the-fake-islamic-plot-to-take-over-schools"><em>Guardian </em>Long Read.</a> We spoke to Samira about the research and reporting of “Karachi Vice”, writing narrative non-fiction and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/01/the-mystery-of-the-gatwick-drone">mysterious case of the Gatwick drone</a>.</p> <p>You can find us online at <a href="https://www.alwaystakenotes.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">alwaystakenotes.com</a>, on Twitter @takenotesalways, and on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Our crowdfunding page is <a href="https://www.patreon.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">patreon.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.</p>