Paul M M Cooper's debut novel River of Ink was published January 2016 by Bloomsbury, to widespread acclaim.

Lyrically written and intricately plotted, River of Ink is set in 13th century Sri Lanka, following court poet Asanka after tyrannical ruler Kalinga Magha takes the throne and commands Asanka translate the epic poem The Shishupala Vadha. Partly inspired by Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas Wyatt, River of Ink covers themes of rebellion and freedom, and has been praised by Orange Prize winner Madeline Miller as 'potent, beautiful and wholly absorbing'. Cooper, who studied at Warwick and UEA, is a freelance writer who spent time in Sri Lanka researching this novel extensively, sneaking into ancient city Polonnaruwa and studying local languages and cultures. This book is an assured and beautifully written debut from a talented writer with great things ahead of him.