The Tune of Grief: Karen S. Chow, author of Miracle, on writing a young character who loses her beloved father and her ability to play the violin —his favourite instrument.
Read MoreMaya Prasad Shares The Recipe For Romance: A Charm Spell & Also Recommends Rom-Com Books
Maya Prasad, author of Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things, share what is the perfect recipe for romance, the charm spells romance writers can cast, and rom-com books to check out.
Read More“In the context of exotic vistas, I seek to be a humble merchant of tales, eager to give the world a glimpse of our desi riches”
Gourav Mohanty, the author of Sons of Darkness, on writing a story set in re-imagined Vedic India, the last unexplored genre of Indian literature, and inspiration behind this debut grimdark fantasy.
Read More“There have definitely been ups and downs, but I always remind myself that first and foremost, [writing] has to bring me joy in order to keep doing it”
Romi Moondi, the author of 24 Hours in Paris, on her journey to being published and what inspires her to write strong women leads — a South Asian slant on the rom-com.
Read MoreSalma Hussain Recommends Twelve Canadian Writers Creating Stories Around Muslim Characters
Salma Hussain, author of The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan (May 2022), recommends twelve books with Muslim characters written by Canadian authors.
Read More“As an adult they seem incongruous, but as children we knew seemingly opposite things can co-exist…as long as we made the space”
Nina Hamza, the author of Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year, on the power of ‘and’ when crafting a middle-grade coming-of-age story about identity.
Read More“Both [my] characters soon come to realise that, like everything that ascends, they must come down eventually where their problems still remain”
Aneesa Marufu, the author of The Balloon Thief, writes a guest post on how feelings of prejudice and unbelonging drove this debut fantasy.
Read More“Faith is not a static thing; it may ebb and flow, and I attempted to illustrate the same fluctuations”
In January 2022, a romantic tale took readers on a heartfelt journey of faith, family, and love. Salaam, With Love captures the feeling of being different, of not fitting in, while also exploring one’s relationship with their cultural and religious heritage. And of course, it’s about first love. Set in New York, this comforting and…
Read More“The shape of the trauma may be different, but the taste of tears on their tongue is the same”
In August 2021, a feminist fantasy unapologetically took readers on a journey of sisterhood, anger, and resilience. The Wild Ones is a heart-heavy, lyrical, and magical tale that doesn’t shy away from acknowledging and tackling societal flaws, institutionalised wrongs, and trauma. With characters who navigate the myriad meanings of empowerment and vulnerability, the author —whose…
Read More“It was incredibly cathartic for me to portray the spiritual struggles of my protagonists”
In March 2021, a fantasy set in a colonised Indo-Persian world and inspired by pre-Islamic Arabian mythology was published. The Descent of the Drowned is a dark, immersive, and powerful debut that also has undertones of the political and sociocultural issues of the region. But it’s biggest asset is characterisation. The morally ambiguous protagonists make…
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