I love wearing glittery clothes, make up and shoes. And starry capes too! It makes my heart shimmer, shine and smile. This is how I shower light, love and hope upon the world.
All children deserve to shine. It is why I write stories about empathy, multiculturalism, humanity, social justice and stem. My globe-trotting background, my Pakistani heritage and my lived experiences as an American Muslim allow me to write these much-needed stories.
Oh, and I LOVE cats! Meow!
After getting my BA from Boston University, my ADHD brain and I taught elementary school. I was also a middle school English teacher. Years later, I ran my own preschool program. The best part of my day was telling stories to my students. That is when I knew I wanted to be a writer. I joined the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and worked hard to make my dreams come true.
Blessings abounded, but not without the hundreds of rejections in between. I was fortunate to be named the runner up for the 2016 SCBWI Sue Alexander Award for my picture book manuscript, DEAR CAT. Then I was the recipient of the 12×12 2018 diversity scholarship.
The 2020 SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant in the underrepresented voices category was awarded to me for my immigrant story. It was also the year I got my agent, Stephanie Fretwell-Hill (Red Fox Literary). Finally, in 2021, my picture books, NOURA’S CRESCENT MOON, and HANA’S HAJJ found their home at Candlewick Press.
This opened many doors. I was a Nerd Camp panelist for writing authentically about disabilities in books in 2022 and 2023. In addition, I presented at NCTE 2023 on how to be inclusive of students with physical and/or learning disabilities in the classroom setting. You will see me at NCTE Denver again sharing about my neurodiverse brain.
Did I mention I love cats? I live with my family and our beloved tabby, Pawsy.
Pawsy
