Shyama Perera started her working life as a newspaper journalist. She was the youngest reporter ever taken on by the Guardian at that time, and later moved into television and radio before ultimately settling for a life raising two children and writing novels. She still freelances for the national press and is a regular talking head across all media.

Her current passion is to use the principles of creative writing to instil verbal and written confidence in children, and to promote original thought and expression within business. She also provides manuscript services and was one of six writers granted residencies as part of the 2005 ArchiTEXTS project.

She is a director of Kali Theatre Company, which specialises in new writing by Asian women, and set up the company website.