Hello and welcome to InkyBlots Ms. Abdullah! Tell us a bit about you – where you’ve been, how you got here, where you’re going.

Thanks for having me on your blog. I am a Pakistani-American author based in Austin, Texas. My creative work focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of Pakistani women and their unconventional choices in life. I have been writing on and off since 1993.

My new novel Saffron Dreams explores the tragedy of 9/11 from the perspective of a Muslim widow. I received a grant from Hobson Foundation for that body of work. My 2005 debut book, Beyond the Cayenne Wall is a collection of stories about Pakistani women struggling to find their individualities despite the barriers imposed by society. The collection won the Norumbega Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction and the DIY Festival Award, among other accolades.

Tell us about Saffron Dreams and how it went from idea to published book.

Saffron Dreams explores the tragedy of 9/11 from the perspective of a Muslim widow. In the novel, I have attempted to capture how ordinary Muslims were affected by the tragedy of 2001—the silent majority who lead very normal lives and are law-abiding citizens of this land. They are the ones we never hear about because their lives are too ordinary to be the subject of the nightly news. Saffron Dreams is the story of basic human desire to be accepted in society, no matter what your background, ethnicity, or race.

The issues that I explore in the novel are universal––racism, discrimination, bias, muddled or forced identities––those are all common issues that drive the value and worth of an individual in a society. The tragedy of 9/11 was a great shock to the American psyche.

Some of that anger was directed towards those who shared the race and religion of the terrorists, especially those who publicly exhibited symbols of their faith such as veils, beards, even their own names. With Saffron Dreams, my intent is to convey that most Muslims lead their lives guided by the general principles of goodness and peace. Modern History Press acquired the book last year and it got published in February 2009.

Could you tell us briefly about Arissa?

The protagonist of the novel, Arissa Illahi, is a veil-wearing Muslim artist and writer in New York. Pregnant and alone after the tragedy of 9/11, she discovers the unfinished manuscript of her husband and decides to finish it as a tribute to him. Her unborn son and her husband’s legacy provide a renewed sense of hope to Arissa as she struggles to put the pieces of her life back together.

Having a child with disability compounds her fear of discrimination and forces her to make some tough choices as we find out in the novel. On the other hand, having a special needs child provides Arissa the necessary distraction from the biggest loss of her life and she finds out that her son fulfills her completely.

What kind of research did you do for writing Saffron Dreams?

There were many different pieces of the novel that required extensive research. The time and place where the tragedy unfolded, how it manifested, what were the dynamics of the situation, etc. Often it felt like feeling in the dark for one more piece to finish the puzzle.

It’s amazing to watch a story unfold; it sometimes surprises even the author. The character of the protagonist’s son who was born with a rare disability required methodical research too. It involved interviewing parents of such children and really getting to know their daily struggles.

How did you become a writer?

I think it was never a goal of mine but the hope of many around me. Growing up, my parents performed the role of gentle guides, nudging us in the direction we were inclined toward and then stepped back and watched us grow. I wasn’t judged when amongst siblings with successful career paths such as doctors, MBAs, and valedictorian nurses, I proclaimed my decision of being a designer.

With that, writing became a cherished hobby. While in Pakistan, I started freelancing as a writer for the local magazines and newspapers and kept on going. I was published in many publications including Women’s Own, Dawn, She, Fashion Collection, etc. Along the way I discovered that storytelling was a good strength of mine and I started focusing on fiction more.

What would you say is the most difficult thing about being a writer?

Editing and marketing your own work. If you accept those two elements as part of the whole package, you would be a happier author.

Do you have any interesting writing habits/quirks?

I write whenever I can, wherever I can. I am totally undisciplined as a writer except when I am on a deadline. Because my days are so packed, I write when I get time. Most of Saffron Dreams was written during the night.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given/learned in your life as a writer?

That it is never personal. When I pull together a manuscript, I test it with a group of readers and ask them to be brutally honest in their analysis. It helps me as a writer to perfect my work. Ask any published author and they will tell you how discouraging the publishing world is. The rejection rate is close to 94% by some standards.

Despite that, there were over 170,000 books published in the US alone last year. My advice to an aspiring writer is this, enter this field if you are not afraid of rejection and can take criticism well. Write with humble goals in mind and don’t make fame your first and foremost objective. Finally, work hard to finesse your work and make persistence your friend.

What are you working on now?

Actually there are two books that I am currently considering. One is a novel about the street children of Pakistan, a book that Arissa is shown working on in Saffron Dreams and another is a young adult novel about an Indian teen torn between her passion for dancing and keeping the family business alive.

When you’re not writing, what are you doing?

Oh, lots. I am a full time designer for an education nonprofit in Austin. I freelance as a designer and I have a beautiful 5-year-old daughter who keeps me pretty busy. Finally, I volunteer for various nonprofits. I find it hard to turn down opportunities that involve service of some sort.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers here?

You can find a wealth of information on my website at www.shailaabdullah.com including a reading guide, excerpt, reviews, and buying information. For those with comments and questions, I can be reached at shailaabdullah@gmail.com.

*If you mention InkyBlots when you write to me, you will receive a free e-book called A Taste of Saffron, containing recipes of dishes mentioned in Saffron Dreams. Readers who sign up for updates on my website will get a free excerpt of my 2005 book, Beyond the Cayenne Wall.*

Thank you very much for coming by this blog. I wish you great successes with Saffron Dreams.

Thanks for having me on InkyBlots.