Salman Rushdie is engaged on a e book in regards to the assault that robbed him of his proper eye, he mentioned in one in all his first public appearances since he was repeatedly stabbed onstage at a literary competition in upstate New York final yr.

Talking on the FT Weekend Pageant in Washington on Saturday, the novelist, 75, mentioned he was nonetheless “a little bit overwhelmed up” however “mainly nice”, practically one yr after the try on his life.

Carrying glasses with a darkened proper lens, Rushdie appeared on the occasion by way of video hyperlink.

“I’m not studying as quick as I used to however . . . I’m writing what I believe will probably be a reasonably quick e book about what occurred,” Rushdie mentioned in a wide-ranging dialog that explored most of the creator’s novels, from Midnight’s Kids to Victory Metropolis, his most up-to-date work which was revealed earlier this yr.

Rushdie has for many years confronted persecution for his work and lived below risk of demise.

The Satanic Verses, first revealed in 1988, generated controversy for the way it depicted the Islamic prophet Mohammed. The e book was banned in Iran and the nation’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie.

Following the demise risk, Rushdie went into hiding and lived below armed guard.

After the assault final yr US secretary of state Antony Blinken accused the Iranian authorities of inciting violence in opposition to Rushdie and castigated Tehran for “gloat[ing]” in regards to the try on his life.

Rushdie made gentle of his critics on Saturday, saying: “If my work has enemies, they’re most likely the fitting enemies to have.”

When requested what his recommendation could be to younger aspiring writers, Rushdie replied: “I might say, do what it’s important to do and don’t be scared.”

Rushdie has largely been absent from the general public eye within the final yr as he recovered from the assault on his life. He made a uncommon in-person look in New York final week to just accept the Centenary Braveness Award from PEN America, the non-profit organisation that advocates for freedom of expression.

“There’s lots of people in a number of methods proper now making an attempt to place fences round what’s OK to do and what’s not OK to do . . . if something goes to result in the demise of the novel, that will probably be it,” Rushdie warned attendees on the FT Pageant on Saturday.

“We have now to say our fact in our approach and provide it to the world,” he added.