City-based writer Nomita Khanna has been shortlisted among the top 25 applicants for the Himalayan Writing Retreat’s Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship, an initiative to celebrate emerging voices in long-form narrative writing.A total of 230 writers applied for the fellowship.Her manuscript, Am I Dying?, currently in progress, is a memoir threading together illness, resilience and the quiet textures of domestic life. She says it is not merely a story of survival, but a meditation on how beauty, care and meaning persist even in moments shadowed by uncertainty.Khanna, known for her warm, emotionally insightful storytelling, brings a seasoned pen to this fellowship. She is the author of Lucky Costasaurus and the Golden-Winged Vultures, a finalist at the 13th National Indie Excellence Awards, and Rose’s Bent Stem, which received an honourable mention at the Author Shout Awards.Her versatility, moving from children’s fantasy to a deeply personal memoir, makes her a writer not afraid of transcending genre boundaries.Reflecting on her submission, Khanna says, “The memoir traces a deeply personal journey through medical crisis and recovery, reflecting on how meaning, care and beauty persist even in moments of uncertainty. I submitted chapter nine from my book, which explains the kindness of the staff tending to me during my illness.”The fellowship, named after journalist Khozem Merchant, is designed to nurture writers who bring fresh perspectives to non-fiction. For Khanna, it is both, recognition and responsibility, a chance to refine her voice in a national forum while carrying Ludhiana’s literary spirit to wider audiences.Remembering meeting Ruskin Bond, she says: “One of the most unforgettable moments of my life was meeting Ruskin Bond, whose writings shaped my childhood imagination. I had the privilege of presenting my book to him. His gentle smile and words of encouragement remain etched in my memory. It felt like a blessing from a master storyteller.”