Interview

What book(s) have you written?

• Wonderful Women Around the Prophet
• The Clever Companions Wonderful Women Around the Prophet
• The Adventurous Friends

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

I’ve always loved books but having children of my own made me realise that I wanted to write books that inspired them.

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

6 months  

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

I was lucky to work with my co author, Rumaysa, and so we both supported each other with our strengths. We took breaks during our project to ensure we could approach our writing with a fresh mind each time.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Being able to write with a house full of little children can be very demanding but Alhumdulilah I think the hustle and bustle helped me. Also my inspiration was visibly there to remind me to keep going all the time.
 

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

Through reading many books and referring to the primary sources of the Qur’aan and Hadith.

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

Spending time with family and exploring. I also love teaching the children at my school and this keeps me busy too.

What does your family think of your writing?

My children are immensely proud of my writing. Alhumdulilah! My children love to see the books in shops and are eager to tell others about the books.

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

My cousin and I created a small publishing company so that we could self publish our books. This was the biggest learning curve for me as we were beginners in this journey.  

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

Read more. Join a book club. Have those interesting conversations with people around you whenever you can. See what sparks your interest and write just for the sake of enjoying the process.  

What do you think makes a good story?

A good story for me is one where the reader is invested in the outcome. The reader wants to find out what is happening and even if it is a superhero story there is still some relatability to the reader. Good stories are ones where the reader is invited to use their imagination and they leave a memorable effect.

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

A teacher! And I still am a teacher today.

What is your favorite book?

The Harry Potter series  

Where do you live?

London

Fun Facts

Please share 10 Random facts about yourself for your readers!

1. I love to read but only if it’s a physical book.
2. I have 3 girls who keep me very busy.
3. I’ve held an an Olympic torch, FA Cup and Cricket World Cup.
4. I once gave away my Harry Potter book set (the original covers) because I needed more space. Sob :(
5. My feet are a size 1. That’s a EU size 34
6. My favourite thing to do is go to the beach. Just being near the sea is so calming and beautiful.
7. Appeared on a tv show in Shanghai as my friends and I were recorded whilst in the city.
8. Coffee is my fuel!
9. The last place I visited abroad before lockdown restrictions was Paris and it’s soon to be the first place I visit again.
10. I will always prefer the book to the movie!