Vishwas R. Gaitonde

Vishwas R. Gaitonde is a talented storyteller whose debut collection, *On Earth as It Is in Heaven*, captures the beautiful complexity of searching for belonging across borders. His writing brings to life characters who are navigating the in-between spaces—immigrants and expatriates building new lives while carrying pieces of home with them. Published in September 2025 by Orison Books, this prize-winning collection (it took home the 2023 Orison Fiction Prize!) follows diverse characters like doctors contemplating their futures across England and Pakistan, or a Tamil physician creating a new chapter in the American Midwest. What ties these stories together is that universal longing we all share: finding our own piece of paradise right here on Earth. Drawing from his own experiences living in India, Britain, and the United States, Gaitonde writes with authenticity about cultural displacement, family bonds, and the relationships that shape us. His stories—including standouts like "Pigs is Pigs and Eggs is Eggs" and "At Home and Away"—explore how we all seek connection and meaning, no matter where we call home.