Sunninghill resident Sean Badal will launch his sixth book, Shadows of Mine, on November 19.

With a passion for writing that began at an early age, Badal has built a career contributing to publications around the world, including the Financial Times and Wired. His latest work brings together a collection of essays, interviews, travel writing and book reviews drawn from his contributions to various publications over the years.

Comparing Shadows of Mine to a ‘greatest hits’ album, Badal said the book offers readers an opportunity to explore a selection of his work across different subjects and perspectives. “My pieces from publications across the globe are dispatches from the frontlines of cultural transformation. It traverses the landscapes of film, literature, politics, travel and technology, offering a panoramic view of the forces that have defined – and defiled – our times,” he said.

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For Badal, the book’s title reflects the thoughts, ideas and obsessions that remain with people throughout their lives. “In many ways it refers to thoughts and ideas (and obsessions) that have followed me around over the years. They are our shadows, whether we like it or not – and live constantly in our heads,” he explained.

His writing draws on personal experiences and observations of the world. “There are a lot of my own personal experiences in the book. It is my own understanding of what the world means to me.

“In travel writing, for example, you are always living through your own experiences and prejudices which impinge on everything that you see or do.

“I hope that it’s a thrilling ride into culture, history and all the meaningful tropes that have shaped our lives,” he said.

While Shadows of Mine is his sixth book, it represents a departure from his previous work. His first five books were novels, making the latest publication his first venture into non-fiction.

For Badal, reaching this milestone is a reminder of the effort required to bring a book to life. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work. You only sense that you’ve achieved something when you hold the book in your hand,” he said.

Despite his experience as a writer, the upcoming launch comes with its own challenges, and Badal described the November 19 event as both thrilling and nerve-racking, particularly because of the question-and-answer session. “I don’t do well in public,” he admitted.

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Reflecting on life beyond his writing career, he offered a characteristically candid answer when asked about his greatest achievement outside publishing his books. “Surviving life on this planet and living to tell the tale, so to speak,” he said.

For readers discovering his work for the first time, Badal hopes the collection will encourage curiosity and a deeper engagement with the world. “My book touches all sorts of subjects. I hope readers are as passionate about the world that constantly challenges us as I am – and that they are intellectually restless and curious as I am too,” he said.

Shadows of Mine is available through Amazon in hard copy and Kindle editions ahead of its official launch on November 19 at Exclusive Books in Rosebank.

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