Author: kswemba

A Chat with Marzieh Abbas and Books For Karachi Kids

kswemba

I’m thrilled to be talking with Marzieh Abbas today. Marzieh is spearheading a collaborative effort to bring books to the children of Karachi, Pakistan. She mentioned her desire for children in her community to have books, and the writing community of Twitter joined her mission.

Thank you so much for joining me, Marzieh! Before we discuss Books for Karachi Kids, we’d love to learn a little bit about you and how you came into writing.

Marzieh: Hi Kelly, I’m so honored to be here talking about books! I came to writing through  some combination of fate and chance and I’m so glad I did! I’ve always loved reading but I never dreamt of being a writer! I am a business graduate, living in Karachi, Pakistan and I used to run a very successful home-based bakery for eight years. It brought me a lot of joy and I loved creating themed desserts and working with some of the best party planners in the city. 

Wow, that’s so exciting! I think there’s such an art to baking. Definitely a recipe that calls for a pinch of science and a handful of love. But I’m guessing things changed as life steered you in a different direction.

Marzieh: In May of 2019, a little after my second child turned two, I was on a hiatus from baking; it was the month of Ramadan and summer time in Pakistan and I just couldn’t handle orders. I missed baking though and began writing to process the withdrawal symptoms (because baking is very therapeutic for me) and the demands of motherhood. And what started as a journal for myself, soon morphed into letters to my kids and then fictional stories depicting a family like ours. On a whim I decided to research publishers and have my first two books traditionally published by niche Mulsim publishers, one in the US and one in the UK. 

Soon after I wrote ABCs of Pakistan and it was picked up by a Pakistani publisher. I took Mira’s Children’s Book Academy course in August 2019 and made lots of friends in the writing community. I also joined Twitter around the same time and found the #WritingCommunity to be extremely helpful. To keep myself accountable and as a challenge to read more kidlit, I set up a Facebook group called Children’s Book Reviews (CBR Global). With the pandemic I was able to attend a lot more virtual conferences. I began querying around March of 2020. And signed with my lovely agent, Lynnette Novak of the Seymour Agency, in September 2020. 

You definitely dedicated yourself to learning the craft and it shows! I want to highlight how you took things you loved from your life and wrote about them. Stories can be strong for many reasons, but personal experience can really add a layer of heart that can connect you to your readers. I also hear that you just received a six book publishing contract! Congratulations! 

Marzieh: Thank you! It is indeed exciting. It’s a chapter book series with ABDO publishing about a Muslim family and their everyday adventures. My agent passed on a call for submissions and I dove right in. I read chapter books, lots and lots of them (the e-versions; we don’t get the latest books at bookstores in Pakistan very often)! I also heard lots of chapter books being read aloud by authors, teachers and librarians on youtube because of the pandemic. I was waiting for edit notes from my editor on my first book deal (A DUPATTA IS…) and was able to do a thorough study. Chapter books are so different from picture books or MG! I found a critique group by posting on SCBWI’s Blueboard and after a few quick rounds of revision (the deadline for submission was super short) I submitted one complete book and a pitch for five more. Luckily the editors at ABDO loved my writing and found the perfect illustrator, Lala Stellune, for the project.

I’ve loved learning about your journey! And now, it seems your path is again leading you on another new adventure. Recently on Twitter, you had wished for books for the children in Karachi. What is their literary experience currently like?

Marzieh: These kids attend English and English-medium schools. Some are private schools which do have libraries, but I’ve personally visited them and they are fairly dated, plus the private school libraries aren’t accessible to everyone. Some schools are run by foundations which run on donations. 

But there is no public library system in Pakistan, and it is my dream to get one going. A truly inviting space for kids to enjoy and share their excitement for books, without having to pay a membership fee.

I love this idea and fully support bringing books to the children of Karachi. It is because of your wish that a group of us through Twitter created Books for Karachi Kids. We see this as a collaborative effort to share books with a community that otherwise doesn’t have access, as you have described. What do you see as the greatest impact that books could have for them, and what would this mean to you and your community? 

Marzieh: Unfortunately in Pakistan very few kids read for leisure. We have no public libraries with a dedicated, inviting children’s section. Books are considered an expense rather than an investment. Many publishers do not distribute to Pakistan and private booksellers often get very limited titles at a very high cost (due to taxes and shipping costs) and they often don’t arrive in the market until years after release, if at all. I feel there is so much to enjoy in literature. I myself was completely unaware of the kinds of books being published in recent years. I think the Harry Potter series caught on here too, but many people don’t know of the wealth of information and the way non-fiction and other heavy topics are creatively approached in kidlit these days.

When public libraries in the US opened up after the covid restrictions were lifted and Americans were able to physically browse through books, (yeay!) it made me wonder how amazing that feeling must be! Holding a hard copy of a recent release in Pakistan! And that’s exactly what I tweeted and a wonderful bunch of creatives have risen to aid me in realizing my dream!

And we’re thrilled to be able to work with you on this! What do you wish for the children in Karachi?  

Marzieh: I ultimately hope to change the reading culture in Pakistan- from reading just course-related books, to leisure reading. I hope parents will see how books make it so easy for kids to open up and talk about topics we may never have approached, to heal through the hope offered in children’s books and to truly enjoy books, whether they have a moral or not.

I also hope readers will eventually be sophisticated enough, and the love for books will grow enough, to ultimately create a viable market for foreign publishers to bulk ship and sell books in Pakistan and beyond. This way the cost for books will also fall, and more people will be able to buy them too. 

Thank you so much for speaking with me today, Marzieh! I am so happy to be part of this team, and can’t wait to help the children of Karachi. I’ll be providing information on how to donate and where donations can be sent once plans are more finalized. I know you’ve been contacting numerous agencies and locations and it seems we’re getting closer to sharing that information.  A special thank you to our team members: Carrie Boone, Amy Miller, Mark Wright, Jenny Mattern, Jyothi Nookula, Kaye Wright, Krista Legge, Mary Hellen Berg and Tony Tong. 

And lastly, I am giving away one non rhyming picture book critique to a randomly chosen winner. If you’d like to be entered, please follow Marzieh Abbas on Twitter @MarziehAbbas and comment either on this post or on Twitter. Giveaway ends on 6/11/21 at 12pm EST. Have a great day everyone and stay tuned for more exciting new from #Books4KarachiKids!  

SPRING FLING CONTEST: READY, SET, GROW!

kswemba

Hi everyone! Spring is a wonderful time of year that STEMS with renewal, growth, and possibilities. As writers, we weather the storm of revisions, submissions, and passes. But, by digging down deep and connecting to our roots, we’re made stronger. I hope this Spring brings everyone budding success!

The warmer weather also brings us the uplifting SpringFling writing contest! My entry focuses on Mother Nature, and I hope you like it!

(GIF from Tenor)

READY, SET, GROW!

Good morning and welcome to The Annual Spring Race.

I’m your host, Mother Nature.

Like bears waking from hibernation, our contestants are grumbling.

And rumbling.

And shifting in their beds.

It’s time.

Flowers, start your engines!

Ready…

Set…

GROW!

Who will make the first move?

It looks like…

Crocus!

She may be small, but she is mighty!

Can this tiny little flower pull it off?

Not if Hyacinth has anything to say about it.

Making his move, they’re stem and stem!

But wait!

Tulip breaks her bulb next.

Followed by Daffodil.

What a race!

They’re nearing the top.

Climbing.

Reaching.

Stretching.

And it looks like it’s…

CROCUS!

This dainty flower proves she strong and beautiful.

Followed by Hyacinth, Tulip, then Daffodil.

The real winners though, are their admirers.

Thanks again for tuning in.

And make sure to stop and smell the flowers!

When You Receive a Pass: Ways to Cope and Keep Going

kswemba

You poured your heart and soul into your manuscript. It took weeks, months, years to get it just right. Then after doing research, you’ve found the perfect agent, the one that fits just right. And you press submit! A mix of excitement and worry hits you simultaneously. Did I spell their name right? Did I make any typos!? Did I send the right document? After some deep breathing (and perhaps checking your already sent work) you’re ready for the next part. Waiting.

How to keep busy when waiting to hear back from an agent, editor, or writing contest.

Write. Staying busy helps distract us from the waiting game. Maybe use all of your nervous energy and convert it into a new story, blog post, or poem. Critique someone else’s work, watch a webinar. These all allow you to stay creative and productive. Allow yourself to write what your mood feels like.

OR….

Take a brain break! Do something unrelated. Get out into nature. Take a walk, run, have a cup or tea/coffee outside in your backyard or local park. Call friends that you haven’t talked to in a while. Or read a book! This is how I became encouraged to write in the first place. And going back to ENJOYING just reading a book for all of its goodness has always been a good decision.

After all the waiting, you finally hear back from the agent/editor/contest and it’s a no. UGH. Let’s sit with these feelings for a bit because it’s okay to admit how hard it is! It’s disappointing, discouraging, and does hurt because our writing is us, our hard work, our heart, and our thoughts. It feels personal – but remember they aren’t rejecting YOU as a person. They are PASSING on a project that isn’t right for them, that they aren’t 100% passionate about. Would you want an agent that didn’t feel like they could represent your work? Of who wasn’t as in love with it, and didn’t see it for all of its goodness? No, of course not. BUT that doesn’t make the “no” any easier.

This, my friends, is the hardest part of writing for me. I write heart books, books that deal with big feelings and situations for little children. Because to children, these feelings ARE big, and they don’t have the coping strategies to deal with them. I write to help them see that these feelings are okay, and hopefully bring their grownup and them closer together. So when I’ve poured my heart into these books, a “pass” really stings. Is it easy to keep going? No. But I couldn’t imagine not writing. Even if that means years (yikes) of passes. Because these stories matter to me. And hopefully one day, they’ll matter to children.

So take heart my friends. Know I am feeling the sting right along with you. You can always reach out to me and I promise to help any way I can. I wish you luck on your writing journey. Stay strong!

Writing Contest: Vivian Kirkfields 50 Precious Words

kswemba

Hi everyone! On this beautiful sunny morning, I’m reflecting and taking a minute to slow things down. This was partly the inspiration for the story I’m sharing with you today. It was written for Vivian Kirfields 50 Precious Words contest. That’s right, you have to write a complete story using only 50 words. (I do love a good contest!) It is a story that speaks of the simple things in life combined with the love we have for our grandparents. I hope you enjoy it!

THE SKIPPING STONES

The best stones rest
in the shade of
the weeping willow.

Grandpa taught me so.

Smooth.
Light.
Lean.

Elbow back.
Release!
Kerplunk.

Again!
Plop.

My shoes shuffle the dirt.
A breeze whispers, "Try again".

I choose another.
Then-
      skim,
            skim,
                skim!

Just like Grandpa used to do.

BRAVE FOR GIGI

kswemba

Hi everyone! It’s the month of heart candies, cute stuffed animals, and an excuse to wear lots of pink. It’s ALSO time for Susanna Hill’s Valentiny writing contest! The details – a child appropriate story that’s 214 words or under about being brave.

My story was inspired by my Grandma. My kids call her Gigi. I hope you like my story!

BRAVE FOR GIGI

I cut out a heart,
sprinkle glitter and love.
A special surprise for my Gigi.

She's crinkled.
And wrinkled.
From years of 
laughter and smiles.

She's tough just like me.
Raised my mom by herself.
And never once made a complaint.

She always made sure,
to show us she cares
with squeezing hugs and
cheek kisses.

But now she's grown tired.
And slightly forgetful
about all the regular stuff.

She moved to a place
with grand-parents galore.
There's a sleep over every night!

So I'm bringing my card
with a picture of us
to show her how much I care.

But I stumble a bit-
my tummy does flips.
And I start feeling not so sure.

It's been a long time
since I've been to visit.
Will she remember me?

My mom holds me tight.
Sweeps the hair from my eyes,
and I turn towards room 214.

I take a deep breath
and try to be brave
as I slowly walk through the door.

"There's my sweetheart!"
my Gigi cries.
And hobbles right over to me.

She opens my card.
Tears form in her eyes-
and trickle down her creases.

With a squeezing hug
(and many cheek kisses)
she's my Gigi, and she loves me.

For more information on this contest, please visit Susanna Hill’s wonderful website!

Eh, What’s Up Doc? Announcing The Guidelines For The 6th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!

The Grief In My Heart

kswemba

In the quiet times, when I least expect, it finds me.

It tugs and pulls, and climbs up to the surface – gasping to come out.

It’s grief – and its different for each of us…but it’s there.

This year has been hard for everyone. Some of us have lost someone we love. Some of us haven’t been able to hug those that are still here. And all of us have struggled at some point with isolation, routine, and trying to stay positive for those around us.

But it’s hard! And in those quiet moments when I sit in silence, an unexpected companion shows up. And I let myself FEEL all that I’ve worked so hard to ignore this past year. And with a deep exhale, I cry. Because life is so different. But it’s OKAY to cry – to mourn how things were, what I miss, and what I’ve lost. I’m writing all of this to let everyone know it’s okay to cry. To let yourselves feel isn’t being weak – it’s being in tune with your emotions. It’s letting out what’s been hiding for a while. And maybe once it’s out, you can take a cleansing breath, and begin the day again. I hope that you can.

Susanna Hill’s Holiday Contest

kswemba

Hi everyone! It’s that time of year again for falling snow and cozying up by the fire. It’s also time for Susanna Hill’s Holiday contest. I love a good writing contest and this one’s always such a treat. This year it’s especially fun because the theme for this 250 word story is holiday helpers. I chose to focus on a special kind of Christmas helper. I hope you enjoy!

National Lampoon Christmas Vacation Clark Griswold Christmas Tree Squirrel
 CHRISTMAS IMPOSSIBLE: AN UNQUIET NIGHT
  
 ‘Twas the night before Christmas
 and all through the house
 not a creature was stirri -
  
 “Wait - what’s that noise?” Santa whispered and paused placing presents.
 Chitter, chatter. Squeak!
  
 “There it is again!” Santa froze and cupped his hand to his ear.
 Chitter, chatter. Squeak!
  
 “Oh no,” the jolly man groaned.
 “That sounds like a-
 SQUIRREL!”
  
 Santa dialed the Christmas Tree Hotline.
 The switchboard lit up like Rudolph's red nose on a dark night.
  
 “We’ve got a code 57,” stated Santa.
 “Dispatching Elf Squirrel Division now, Sir.”
  
 Gears, Ginger, Twinkle and Bob set their Santa Map coordinates
 and dashed out through the frosty flakes.
  
 They reached the house and whooshed down the chimney.
 “So - ho happy you’re here,” said Santa.
 “Glad to help,” said Gears.
 They got to work while Santa snacked by the fire.
  
 The elves climbed the tree 
but
 the squirrel scurried higher.
 The elves swooped down from the star
 but
 the squirrel hid deeper.
 Even Bob’s “never fail” tinsel lasso trick 
failed!
  
 “We’re doomed!” cried Twinkle.
 “Is it snack time?” said Bob.
 “Sweet sugar plums that’s it!” cheered Ginger.
  
 She set a trail of cookie crumbs down the tree.
  
 The squirrel sniffed.
 It crept closer.
 Then…
 MUNCH!
  
 Crumb by crumb it climbed down and into the open carrier.
 “Thanks team,” said Santa and up the chimney he rose.
  
 The elves flew to the forest where
 the squirrel found the perfect pine.
  
 Meanwhile at another house-
 “Finally,” sighed Santa. “Peace and –“
   Chitter, chatter. Squeak!
  
  
  

THE HOUSE THAT NO ONE VISITS

kswemba

Hi everyone! I hope everyone’s safe and sound and enjoying the Halloween season…its only a few days away. I’ve been getting in the spirit of things with a lovely writing contest from Susanna Hill. Here’s the link if you’re interested! https://susannahill.com/category/halloweensie-contest/

The details: write a story that contains the words skeleton, mask, and creep. The catch…it can only be 100 words. Challenge accepted!

I love writing contests because its a great way to be inspired and stretch my creativity. This one is especially challenging because of the required word count…hence HalloWEENSIE. I also love the community of writers. There’s so much talent out there and I love reading other writers works.

So here is my entry. I’ve been writing creepier things than usual. I hope you enjoy it! And thanks for visiting!

Watched Annabelle? Now dare to spend a night in one of these haunted houses in India, India - Times of India Travel
   THE HOUSE THAT NO ONE VISITS
  
 There is a house where shadows stretch
 and cloak the yard in darkness.
 Where rumors fly that evil lurks – 
 just behind the hinges.  
  
 But I am brave, unlike the rest.
 I creep up withered stairs.
 I grab the skeleton knocker 
 as I fidget with my mask.  
  
 A warning whispers through the wind –
 stay away from here.
 A shiver ices down my spine…
 I freeze over with fear.
  
 A quake rumbles beneath my feet
 I scream as the floor gives way!
 Now I’M the whisper of warning you hear-
 forever, 
 a prisoner,
 in the house 
 that no one visits. 
  
  
  
   
(The picture is called the House in Kundanbagh, Hyderabad found at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/watched-annabelle-now-dare-to-spend-a-night-in-one-of-these-haunted-houses-in-india/as60292300.cms)

Why I Write

kswemba

Thinking about this topic actually brings tears to my eyes. I love children’s books. The magic that happens when a child is read a story….seeing them go on an adventure, or learn to cope with something difficult, or begin to learn more about life, love and themselves in those few pages….it can only be described as magic.

I write because I want to help children and caregivers connect. I want story time to be something special, whether it’s heartfelt moment, or a learning opportunity told in a gentle manner. I think childhood is such a special and fragile time, and I would love to be even just a twinkle of positivity – and a reminder that imagination is a wonderful thing.

I’m not famous, or published. But I continue to write because these stories continue to call my name. And with the help from my wonderful critique partners/friends and writing group, I keep trying. I keep entering writing contests, and pitch parties. I’ve recently entered a contest to win a critique from a very amazing kid literature author. If you’re interested in entering, here is the link to the page. https://www.pbspotlight.com/

https://www.pbspotlight.com/pbcritiquefest This link will take you to the contest.

I keep trying because there’s something inside me that says, “Keep going.” Writing is part of who I am, and hopefully one day, I’ll be able to share my stories in book form. Because that my friends, would really make my heart happy.

Best wishes!

Fall Writing Frenzy Entry: Kill Them With Kindness

kswemba

KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS

Steam whirled from the bubbling cauldron as Mandy swirled her spoon. She hummed as the day reeled in her head like an old movie…

…pictures of her helping students whipped through her mind. Her kind actions caught the attention of the coven’s leader Carly, the cruelest witch who cackled, “Don’t fool yourself. You’ll never be mean enough to be a great witch like me! You’re too sweet!”  

The other witches chanted, “Cotton can-dy Man-dy! Cotton can-dy Man-dy!”

Echoes of their jeers rose and floated through the field where she sit a spell with the crows and field mice.

“Never make a great witch, huh?” she asked as she leaned over the pot. She peered in to see her reflection. 

A glint glistened in her eye.

A sneer curled across her lips. 

“Guess I’m not so nice after all.”

She reached down and plucked a hat as black as an eclipse and placed it on her head.

“Thanks for your hat, Carly,” said Mandy into the pot as the last bubble popped and the liquid stilled. “Looks like you won’t be needing it anymore.”

She hummed as she skipped back to school…ready to unveil her newly discovered darkness.