What inspires you to write?

My inspiration for writing comes from the passion I feel for it. I started writing back in school. It began with small articles for a Sharjah daily newspaper. When I left home to come to a different country and start my life independently, I knew there was a story that was ready to be told to the world. Hence my first book No Time to Pause was partly autobiographical. My father is a journalist and a lot of writing inspiration comes from him. 

Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?

I am a part-time writer and that has a drastic effect on my writing. Since it is part-time, I don’t have a fixed schedule or timeline for writing. When I have the right mood and time for it, I go ahead. This definitely delays the process of completing a book, but I know it’s for the best as I give my all when I’m writing in the right setting.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

After being a published author, I know I can think more creatively and understand perspectives better. With whatever happens around me in daily life, I know there is something I can write about and reach out to the world. Inspiration for creativity is in the eyes of the beholder for sure and what I see around me, I know I can put into words creatively for the world to read.

What have you written so far?

I have written two novels – No Time to Pause and my recent kindle ebook, Our Perfectly Blended Chaos. I am also a blogger and a freelance writer. My article was recently published by the prestigious Woman’s Era Magazine.

Do you work to an outline or plot sketch, or do you prefer to let a general idea guide your writing?

I definitely let a free flow of thought guide my writing. I usually do not have a fixed outline, but I would have an idea of what basis I would like to take the plot.

How did you decide how to publish your books?

I knew that my first book No Time to Pause could inspire many young adults who move independently to start a life of their own. As I imagined, the book was well received and my interview was published in a top newspaper in Dubai. The first book led to the second.

Did you make any marketing mistakes that you would avoid in the future?

When I was a debutante, I did not have the best knowledge about marketing my book. I feel that the biggest mistake I committed back then was not using social media to the fullest to reach out to the maximum number of readers. Now I realize the power of social media and make sure to share all that I do with writing in order to have a better reach.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I would just say follow your heart. Your intuition would never betray you. A good writer feels the best within. If you feel you have the gift of talent and love for writing, go ahead and bring life to words. You never know, there could be someone who would get inspired by you one day!

Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?

My latest book Our Perfectly Blended Chaos is a fiction novel that will keep you hooked to the very end. It has mystery, romance, friendship, and twists and turns you wouldn’t expect. A girl moves to a new city with simple dreams to do big in her life. Life changes when a  guy follows to prove his mad love for her. What unfolds is a perfect blend of ultimate chaos. It’s a book that you would definitely love reading!

Do you listen to or talk to your characters?

Every time I’m writing, I literally feel my characters. I can hear them saying what I’m penning down and I envision the scene right in front of my eyes. This is how my love for books began in the first place. It plays in the mind while you read it. So I definitely listen to my characters and that’s the best part that I love about writing.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

Since I am not a full-time writer, it is definitely difficult to touch base again with where I left off and continue the pace. That was definitely the hardest thing about writing. It took me years to complete my book.