An award-winning short story writer, Chika Unigwe, 34, was born in Enugu, Nigeria, and now lives in Belgium with her husband and four children.

On Black Sisters’ Street is her second novel, but the first to be published internationally in English. It recounts the stories of four African prostitutes living in Belgium, whose lives are shattered when one of them is murdered.

Jonathan Cape describes On Black Sisters’ Street as ‘a moving story of the illusion of the West through African eyes, and its annihilation’ but calls it ‘a story of courage, of unity and of hope’. American rights have been sold to Random House, New York, and it’s already been published in Italian and Dutch.

Chika used Litopia as a sounding board for the first draft of the novel. ‘I received some constructive criticism from members which was a big help when it came to revising the manuscript,’ explained Chika, who is represented by agent David Godwin.

‘Now it’s finally about to be published, it feels a little like childbirth; the baby I’ve been carrying is about to see the light of day and I can show it off.’

But Chika isn’t one to rest on her laurels – she’s secured a residency next month which she will use to finish her next book.

"I am working on a new book which I hope to complete when I go on residency at the Bellagio Centre," she said. "I’m thrilled to have been awarded it, not only because I love Italy, but because it will give me the time and space I need to get the book finished. I started it at another residency in Italy, at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, so maybe Italy is my lucky country!"

You can hear Chika talking about her new work on Litopia Daily here.