Interview

What book(s) have you written?

• My First Heroes: 2 Minute Bedtime Stories from the Quran

When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?

I have always loved sharing learnings with others - starting from student council in high school. I always feel an urgency to try to make it easier for whoever comes next and faces the same challenges!

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

5 years 

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Whenever the kids sleep - that's when we had time to work on the booksets!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Am always trying to figure out the "so-what" of how will this lead to the best, most fun or hands-on learning experience for the kids?
 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

for My First Heroes, we worked to ensure everything was cited from the Quran.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

read, workout, changemaking, impact evaluation, homeschooling

What does your family think of your writing?

they are so supportive! we feel so blessed!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

pleasantly surprised by how interested people without their own kids are in buying the books - for the kids they know in their lives! nieces/nephews or family friends.  

Do you have any suggestions to help people become a better writer? If so, what are they?

get as much feedback as possible 

What do you think makes a good story?

compelling story arch

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

lawyer

What is your favorite book?

the autobiography of malcolm x 

Where do you live?

Glenview, Illinois, USA

Fun Facts

Please share 10 Random facts about yourself for your readers!

1. have moved 9 times in 10 years
2. was once a percussion tutor
3. traveled to over 14 countries
4. LOVE sci-fi
5. LOVE star-trek!
6. enjoy learning sign-language and about words
7. would eat cheese with chips all day long if i could
8. played tennis competitively once upon a time
9. wish I could meet an angler fish
10. have probably written a how-to about how to create a how-to ;)

Interview

What book(s) have you written?

• Where's my prayer mat?

When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?

I had no intentions of being an author, but wanted to write a book as there was a lack of children's books with muslim protagonists and wanted to write a board book for kids. Alhamdulillah there's so many more books and authors now.

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

It took a few months. But to get to edit and publish took 2 years. 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I had inspiration from author Julia Donaldson, and specifically her book 'Fox's socks', which my eldest enjoyed a lot.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Mothering and homeschooling.

What does your family think of your writing?

My daughters who are 5 and under enjoy it and read the book

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

It takes a lot of patience and perseverance  

Do you have any suggestions to help people become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Muslim authors who especially self publish, make sure to always have an editor. 

What do you think makes a good story?

A good plot

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to teach

What is your favorite book?

I have so many but for early reader, I love Julia Donaldson's stories, such as Gruffulo 

Where do you live?

London

Interview

What book(s) have you written?

• Mina vs. The Monsoon
• Leila in Saffron
• Samira Surfs

When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?

About 25 years ago. It took me many years to take that desire seriously but I did get there!

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

It took me about a year to write my books picture books. My novel Samira Surfs took about four years because it involved a lot of research.  

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I tend to write in fits and starts. My most productive time is in the morning because my house is quieter then! Also, writing under a deadline often helps me focus and write for longer periods. It's always a challenge to balance work, writing, and life as a mother!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

If the television is one, or there's a conversation going on in the room, I can still write. It may not be my best writing but I can still do it!
 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Most ideas for my books are inspired by my life and experiences growing up in a culturally mixed household. My journalist brain tends to seek out unusual or lesser known stories. And I find history, food, and travel particularly interesting - especially when they are combined.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to surf, go on beach walks, and dance when I'm not writing. They help clear my foggy brain so I can start afresh.

What does your family think of your writing?

My family is very supportive of my writing. When I have moments of doubt or hesitation, they are quick to remind me how lucky I am to have found a passion in life.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Many people, from agent to publisher, are involved in taking your book from manuscript to publication. Each and every one of them is instrumental in its birth. It's an amazing journey in letting go and believing in yourself. 

Do you have any suggestions to help people become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Read books in every genre, seek out critique groups, and keeping refining your craft. Do as much as you can be make sure the work you submit to an agent or editor is your best. 

What do you think makes a good story?

The miracle of authentic human connection.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be many things when I was growing up. At one point, I was interested in psychology. Perhaps I do all my exploring of human nature and the inner workings of the mind in my stories somehow.

What is your favorite book?

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

Where do you live?

USA

Fun Facts

Please share 10 Random facts about yourself for your readers!

1. I can't live without chicken saalan (curry).
2. I am a terrible surfer.
3. I often read the last page of a book first.
4. I first met my grandmother in Guam.
5. I have an older sister and younger brother and we all live in different countries.
6. I am appalling at mathematics.
7. My house is very dusty, and I have dust allergies.
8. I love noodles.
9. My mother is from Shanghai.
10. My father is from Lucknow.

Interview

What book(s) have you written?

Several. Over sixty, therefore not possible to list them here.

When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?

I have been writing stories since my childhood, but after heading a school in 1986, I realised the paucity of good children's books in Pakistan, particularly in Urdu, therefore co-founded the Bookgroup, and wrote and illustrated the first book, its teacher's manual, and trained teachers across the country after producing a few more books by the end of the 1980s.

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

It depends. Fiction is easier, and can be written even in one sitting, but my coffee-table books for general readership: 'Karachiwala: a Subcontinent within a City' and 'Street Smart: Professions on the Street' took me two years to complete. Similarly, the graphic novels I have written for the Oxford University Press are biographies of eminent Pakistani personalities, and a lot of research wet into those.  

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I am at my computer almost every single day, writing for at least 4-6 hours.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When writing fiction, I don't have a plot in my mind. I just have to have an opening sentence or a vague idea, which develops as I write.
 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

An idea or inspiration generally comes from something I have observed/heard/read/experienced. There are no hard and fast rules.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Read books, watch movies or tv shows, illustrate my books, play Scrabble with my husband (it's something we do regularly), create something with fabric...

What does your family think of your writing?

I think they are proud of me :)

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

There is no money to be gained in it.  

Do you have any suggestions to help people become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Just follow your heart; your passion. Reading good books are an absolute must. Stop thinking too much about what and how you will become a writer, as you need to start writing, irrespective of whether it turns out good or bad.  

What do you think makes a good story?

Something unusual, engaging, gripping.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Become an artist, a writer, an actor, a director, a singer.

What is your favorite book?

Can't answer that as there are many.  

Where do you live?

Karachi, Pakistan

Fun Facts

Please share 10 Random facts about yourself for your readers!

1. I like to wear sarees.
2. I love to travel and see new places.
3. I love daal-chawal.
4. I enjoy interacting with children.