I was 14 at my school library, overwhelmed by all the options, and so many great books that all seemed fascinating, but where do I start?
As a child, I didn’t enjoy reading as I struggled to picture the contents of any books in my head as I was reading, making it hard to connect my mind with what was on the page, which really frustrated me as I really enjoyed the idea of experiencing the works of some of the world’s greatest minds.
I didn’t know it at the time but I have dyslexia and needed to find my own techniques (Which I did 🙂 ) to help me resonate with the contents of books.
The librarian saw me struggling and approached me. I shared my disinterest in reading at the time, and she challenged me to write what I was looking for in a book.
But what she said next was what lit a fire in my belly “Not that you’d be able to write a whole one anyway”. Something about the way she said it really made me want to prove her wrong, Oh you think I’m not capable of turning my weakness into my strength I thought? Can’t wait to prove her wrong.
I went home that evening and immediately wanted to write.
At first, the blank page and that constant blinking line on the word document seemed daunting… but as I wrote those first few words it was like the floodgates had been removed and the words began to pour onto the screen.
Writing became a passion for me, I would spend my evenings after school writing.
Days became weeks, weeks became months and before I knew it I had my first self-published novel ready, appropriately named ‘Finding Cloud 9’ which is what my writing journey is for me.
Once I had one book complete and knew that I could write a whole story, my mind was obsessed with playing out different storylines, narratives and character arcs in my brain. I continued to write, exploring different genres, styles and techniques, and ultimately found a love for storytelling as a hobby in my free time.
After secondary school and the completion of my A-levels, I completed my degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of London and the London School of Economics.
I found it very fascinating how different communities and cultures had different beliefs and values, making me want to know more about their stories and how they became the people they are today.
Armed with the insight I gained from my time at university I knew I wanted to create something that reflected the diverse lives and experiences that many all over the world are going through today.
What further cemented this was that my little sister was going to turn 9 and begin wearing a headscarf. I didn’t want it to feel like a burden on her, so I wanted to share with her the experience that many other girls went through on the same journey.
Lockdown gave me time to reflect on my life’s direction and the chance to focus on my writing once again. Coming back with a fresh determination to pursue a career in writing.
I wrote a novel during the early months of COVID and submitted it to #MerkyBooks- an imprint at Random House Penguin- with the hope to get my foot into the literary world. As a result, I was shortlisted for the #MerkyBooks New Writer’s Prize 2020. During this time, I was also a recipient of the Siewcharran Publisher’s Prize for the FAB awards, run by Faber Books.
I began researching stories of women I found interesting and was moved by some of the things I’d seen, heard or read. These stories were different from what I was originally looking for but they made me want to learn more about the women behind the mask, making me realise that everyone has a story worth sharing.
I wanted to show how no matter who you are or what your circumstances maybe you can find that inner strength and overcome any adversity.
I’d love for you to join me on my authoring journey. Join my emailing list and you’ll be getting emails of:
- Me sharing insights into the stories being shared.
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- All the juicy behind-the-scenes footage.