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EP. 126 Saadia Faruqi on Ali the Great and early Influences during her writing career
27 Plays1 year ago
As we sit down with Saadia Faruqi, a talented writer and advocate for diversity in children's literature. Saadia shares her inspiring journey of writing books that resonate with her daughter, with a strong desire for her to see herself represented in literature. We explore the importance of having range in writing, capturing the early years, middle school, and older ages to cater to a wide audience.
Saadia also discusses her mission as a Pakistani American writer and the significance of discussing religion with children. Get a sneak peek into her new series, "Ali the Great," focusing on the early years, set to release on August 1st.
We also delve into the exciting books that Saadia has in the pipeline for the upcoming years.
Website: https://saadiafaruqi.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaadiaFaruqi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saadiafaruqi/
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Transcript
Introduction to Sadia Faruki
00:00:00
Speaker
The real answer to that would be that I have always written, when I started, when I got into children's writing, my big, my big audience of one was my daughter. And that's why I wrote the first Yasmin book, Yasmin is based on my daughter. Hey, what's up, everyone? Welcome to It's Personal, a podcast about creators and their stories.
00:00:39
Speaker
All right. Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of It's Personal. As always, I always say this, but I'm very, very excited today for my guests. Can you introduce yourself?
Sadia's Writing Journey
00:00:49
Speaker
Hi, I'm Sadia Faruki. I am children's author. Primarily, I write books like the
00:00:57
Speaker
Yes Main series, which is an early reader series that a lot of kids read. And also other books for older kids like middle grade novels and nonfiction and all that good stuff. So I'm excited to be here. Thank you for inviting me.
00:01:12
Speaker
that you are so masterful at what you do, like so masterful at what you do, honestly. And I'm not just saying this and I'm, I'm, I try to be very honest when I speak to authors and specifically I wanted to tell you this because as an elementary teacher.
00:01:28
Speaker
I think early years writing and I think that to make it interesting is even more difficult. What you do in regards to like early years and then you're able to like, I like to say like turn it on even more when you do like middle school, et cetera, is just like your range is crazy. It's so crazy to me. So I appreciate what you do for us as educators, for authors, for children, for families, et cetera.
00:01:58
Speaker
But I want to know how, what's the magic? Magic is that I'm a workaholic and I would rather, you know, sit in my office and ride that and go cook dinner. So that's my logic. I think that the real answer to that would be that I have always written when I started, when I got into children's writing, my big, my big audience of one was my daughter.
00:02:24
Speaker
And that's why I wrote the first Yasmin book. Yasmin is based on my daughter. And I just kind of always have my own kids in mind. And that's why my books got older. I like to say, obviously not in terms of the books getting older, but the audience or the readership getting
00:02:42
Speaker
because as my kids grew older, I just kept them in mind and whatever they were going through, good and bad and ugly, I wanted to write about that. Firstly, so that they and kids like them could have some kind of, you know, support in what they read and see themselves in books and secondary for everybody else.
00:03:04
Speaker
And now that my kids are too old to read my books, I just keep that in mind for other children. So I think that that's been, that's the easy part for me where I can switch, you know, in a given.
00:03:16
Speaker
Um, yeah, I'm writing all kinds of age groups and I just think of, you know, young kids in my mind at that age when I write. So it becomes a little bit easier. You, you got range. You got a lot of range. It's awesome. And I think it's the part that I love the most is that it's not just range as in like being able to write different.
00:03:37
Speaker
age groups, it's like quality. It's like really good quality work as well. Like one thing I love about you as a writer is like, you don't hold back on who you are. You're a Pakistan American. And I see that throughout everything that you do. And it's amazing for me to just like be able to look at an author and be like, I know within this book, even if it's new, I haven't known anything about it, that she's going to put a heart and soul in it. And it's going to represent who she is and what she's all about. So I really, really do. Thank you.
00:04:05
Speaker
And that's important to me.
Interfaith Work and Representation
00:04:07
Speaker
That's, that's kind of my platform. I came into this from the other side where I was writing for adults and I was actually doing interfaith work for a long time. And when I got really burned out from that and I switched to writing for children, I carried that over. So a lot of people ask me things like, well, you were doing this very different work and now you switched or changed or forgotten about your original mission. And I don't really think that's true because the mission is still there.
00:04:34
Speaker
want to let people know what it's like to be an immigrant family, a Muslim family, a family of people who are seen as outsiders or from somewhere else, but then also show the rich experience of all the communities that I'm a part of, whether they're faith communities or cultural, especially my kids being first-generation American. All the challenges, the good and the bad that are part of that,
00:05:03
Speaker
I want to showcase that and the diversity of what is, you know, it's not just, we're not a monolith, even within those communities. So, you know, I appreciate you saying that because that's what I want people to get.
00:05:16
Speaker
from my books, that if you pick up a book written by me, know what you're going to get, even though the story is going to be different, that heart of it is going to always be very authentic to who I am. Totally, totally. And Sade, you talk about interfaith, and I feel like I know what that is about for the list, but for the listeners out there, can you just talk a little bit more about what that means? And I think you just shared what it means to you, but definition-wise, what does that mean? Like you say, interfaith.
00:05:46
Speaker
I don't know if there's an actual definition. I feel like the field has become much more, you know, bigger and broader when I started. So I came here to the U.S. as an immigrant in my early twenties and four or three years before 9-11. So when the attacks of 9-11 happened, you know, everything changed for everybody, especially the Muslim American community.
00:06:11
Speaker
was really that faced a lot of backlash, sadly. And I wanted to be part of the solution in terms of helping people understand who we were as a community. So I started talking about my faith and bringing people together from different groups just to do events and book clubs and dinners and online things. Online wasn't that big, but still. Just bring people together from different faith communities and talk about our similarities and how we could find
00:06:41
Speaker
common ground and how we could share each other's, you know, community kind of backgrounds without thinking into fights and arguments and answering questions about each other that people, the media had kind of viewed for everyone, not just one faith. And so I think interfaith for me just means creating a dialogue, creating an understanding between people of different religions or no religion so that we can find some kind of
00:07:09
Speaker
common ground and finding friendship and understanding each other better. The ultimate goal is to find is to realize that we're
00:07:17
Speaker
Pretty much the same, you know, we might pray differently or talk in different languages, but we've still got the same problems. You know, if you're a parent and I'm a parent, we can connect over that. And if you're in Texas and it's super hot, you know, that's something we can have a whole conversation about. So that's how we get to know each other rather than what my scripture says. I love that.
00:07:41
Speaker
I love that. I love that. I don't feel like there's an actual there's an actual definition. I don't, I don't like to, you know, I think it's different for different people.
00:07:50
Speaker
I did that for a very long time. I got bored out for like a good 15 years. That's all I was doing. And my kids grew up with that. So yeah. It's heavy. And it's heavy stuff too. It is. It is. Yeah. But to get used to people standing up and shouting curses at you and telling you to go back where you came from. And after a while, I mean, I still believe strongly in it. But you can't do the same work forever. It can be very mentally exhausting. And I just kind of
00:08:19
Speaker
changed a little bit into writing for kids, because I feel like I could still do the same thing, and reach kids who are way more open understanding than adults. They're the best. They're the best. They're okay with you being different. Whereas, you know, they're the funniest. I love that. You know, I'm going to use
00:08:37
Speaker
I teach, we teach in Vietnam at the United Nations School and our third grade team talked specifically about some of the concepts that you just talked about. So within some of the units that we've been doing, we noticed that there was like a bit of a gap in regards to how much we talk about religion, but like how things, how our religions are like connected and how we can support each other. So I'm going to use this sound bite actually that you just shared.
00:09:03
Speaker
Because I think it's a really good definition of how we can start to think more about the similarities versus the differences that allow us to come together. Because I think that's so important. And when we give that to kids, like you just mentioned, it allows us to grow further and faster because they are the future. And they are the ones that are going to hopefully be more open minded than, you know, some of the adults out there, a lot of the adults out there.
Importance of Diverse Representation in Children's Literature
00:09:30
Speaker
I have so much hope for our
00:09:32
Speaker
are youth because you know they just want to cut through all the bad things and get to the heart of the matter and hopefully that carries on and I think that I want to be part of that. I want to be the part of that solution where you know our books can provide so much you know they grow up reading things like that which my generation and before that read books which had that kind of diversity where you could read about a Muslim kid and a Jewish kid and a
00:10:00
Speaker
an atheist kid and a kid who is different from, you know, mainstream. So you never had that exposure. I never had that exposure. But these kids do. I think that they're going to be very well equipped.
00:10:13
Speaker
to handle a lot that's coming their way. Yeah. No, I, I, I totally agree.
Introducing 'Ali the Great' Series
00:10:18
Speaker
And today I want to talk about this before I, I won't forget, but I want to talk about cause I can, I think it's a good segue. Um, Ali, Ali, the great, like, where did that come from? I am like, when I saw that like announcement, I was like, of course she did.
00:10:33
Speaker
Like, of course, there is Yasvita down his alley. Like, of course. So how did that idea start? How are you feeling about it? I know. I don't know the exact date, but I know it's soon, I believe. August 1st. August 1st is why. Oh my gosh. Very soon. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about it. I want to ask you to tell maybe listeners why they should buy it, but if they don't already know.
00:10:57
Speaker
That's all. If you're a Yasmin fan, you should be reading Ali because Yasmin is in the Ali books and there will be no new Yasmin books. There are 20 Yasmin books in the series now.
00:11:07
Speaker
So she's taking a break. She's very tired from all her adventures. And this year there will be Ali books, but there are four, every year four books come out in that series anyway in the Yasmin books too. And I think definitely in two of them, maybe three of them Yasmin is there as the side character. She is still there, only it's Ali's story. And she's kind of like, you know, the friend.
00:11:31
Speaker
Ali is a group background as Yasmin. He's also a Pakistani American. He's also in second grade. He's in Miss Alex's second grade class, but he's very different from her.
00:11:45
Speaker
As you all know, if you know Yasmin at all, she's a good girl. She's always helpful. She's always kind. She's always trying to do the right thing. And Ali is the kid who's always, you know, making a noise and getting in trouble and trying to do things the fun way rather than the right way. So I thought this would be a good change. The real reason why he even, why the series is even existing is because of my readers. So I noticed first day, first Yasmin book came out.
00:12:15
Speaker
And since then, I have been getting many, many, many requests for, quote unquote, boy book. And so I would go places and it was always an adult request. There was never ever any kid who came to me and said, can you write a book about a boy? But it was always a parent, a teacher, a librarian who would see event I went to every time I would get an email or a contact thing from my, from my website. Can you write a book? Yes, me, but for boys.
00:12:42
Speaker
first i got a bit annoyed more than a bit totally i said what is this what is what is this concept of a boy book boy she's awesome and boys did i mean i i get i meet kids a lot and so many kids told me what boys that they loved yesterday i think it was just something in the parents minds or the teachers might i don't know but after a while i kind of had to stop myself from getting that reaction
00:13:06
Speaker
and saying, look, if so many people are asking for it, that means there's need and I don't have to make it. FYI, if you don't know, I have a business education background. So I know I do know that MBA. And so I try to think of my work as a business. I'm putting things out and I have to make sure that people want and there's a demand and all that.
00:13:27
Speaker
And so I said, well, this is a supply and demand situation. And I can't there and say, no, I don't agree with this. I'm not going to do this. So that's my publisher, who's awesome. Capstone is just, and my editor is just the most amazing people. They were, they heard me and I said, okay, we'll do one year of Ali and see what happens. And hopefully all those people will read this book and buy this book. So.
00:13:54
Speaker
I'm excited. I think, you know, not a gender issue, but just the fact that he's so different from Yasmin and I think that he's got his own, you know, there are a lot of kids who, who want to, you know, do fun stuff and who don't necessarily want to always be awesome and like not awesome, but good, you know, they want to get in a little bit of trouble.
00:14:14
Speaker
No, I love that you've taken on that challenge and I don't understand because I haven't been writing that long. So to get those questions, I do know that feeling in your gut though, that first reaction that you want to just be like,
00:14:31
Speaker
Yeah, you don't know me. But I love that you also were able to sit back with it, reflect. And I also love that, like I did know that you had like a bachelor in business. And I love that you also think of your work as business because I think sometimes for me, at least who's very new in this author world. Yeah, you have to be a little bit strategic about what you're doing and what you're putting out there.
00:14:58
Speaker
And I think you're doing a phenomenal job with that. So I'm excited. I don't know about everybody else, but I'm very excited because my kids love Yasmin as well. And Yasmin is one of the best that are at least for third grade that we can really start off the year with because it's about like the stuff that kids are always going through. And then on top, there's so many layers to like such a like early years book. There's so many layers to it that allow me to touch on so many different things within one book.
00:15:25
Speaker
Which I love. And I know Ali will do the same thing. I know. Fingers crossed. It's almost a time for him to be out in the world. And I'm, I'm excited. I think I was able to do, take a lot of risks. For example, one of the four stories this year are going to be, um, uh, it's all Ali and the Eid party surprise. The Eid is a Muslim holiday. And that's the first time Gashmin has no religious or very little cultural, but definitely no religious like story.
00:15:54
Speaker
It's all like regular stuff. And I think I've been very cautious with her in terms of what everyone will like. And so with Ali, I'm taking a bit more risk. We're right off the bat. We're talking about religion. He's going to the mosque and praying. And that's a different kind of pool. So I feel now I'm in my career.
00:16:14
Speaker
I love that. Yeah, I love that. And I noticed that with the titles as well, like everything, Ali the Great. And then after it, it was very specific. Each one is very specific to you.
00:16:26
Speaker
very, very specific to you. Um, so I, again, I'm excited. I hope the world is, I know the world is excited. The readers will be, you know, they'll be floored by what you are able to do with this new character. Um, and then you have another, you have, you have another book coming, I think it's 2024.
Upcoming Graphic Novel and Social Media Connections
00:16:42
Speaker
I think it's a middle grade novel. I think I have so many books coming. Oh my gosh. So I think next year is going to be even more, but yeah.
00:16:52
Speaker
This year, the next cool thing, actually, before 2024 and 2023 in September, I have my first graphic novel coming out. So that I'm really excited about. That part is so phenomenal, which I did not do. Artist Azeem Khan is amazing. And that's middle grade. So, you know, for a little bit older kids, but, and it's just, this is my kind of stuff.
00:17:16
Speaker
things I write about, but also in graphic model form, which again, another, I know that kids are really into that these days. I want to be part of that culture and sharing a story in a more visual form. And yeah, it was coming out next year as well.
00:17:34
Speaker
Wow. Again, range, lots of range. I love it. I love it. I love it as a, as a, to keep me from getting bored. I have like a very short attention span. And so it's very hard for me to just do the same thing over and over. So, you know, when I try something, you have to learn it, like learning how to write a graphic novel script was super hard. And I probably one of the hardest things I've done. I also had a picture book come out this year, which, you know, people don't realize that it's really hard. I thought that was very difficult to do because he's very difficult.
00:18:04
Speaker
little space to write something, both stories. So it keeps me on my toes because I'm not stuck with the same thing and get bored with it. And I'm learning new things as well. Zaria, when you are not set down creating for us teachers and children and parents, what do you like to do outside of the writing? And I always tell authors that I always say you can't say reading, but you could say reading if you want to, I'll accept reading. But what are some things you like to do outside?
00:18:34
Speaker
A lot of authors do actually love reading. I love reading. I read all the time, all the time. You know, okay. If I say I'm not reading, first of all, I don't have a lot of time because when I'm not writing, I'm doing other work related things. Like I travel a lot. I do a lot of school visits and library visits. And so, you know, when I'm not writing, it's still related to my books, but I actually love
00:18:59
Speaker
traveling and sightseeing. So wherever I go, that's kind of like thing that I do where I'll take some time to look around and try, you know, new restaurants and trying to see whatever is the art team there and things like that. I also love walking, which unfortunately, living in Houston, it's like impossible to do because it's so hot most of the year. That's one of the kind of things that I like doing is there's my head and I think of new stories while I walk. So
00:19:29
Speaker
That's awesome. I appreciate you so much. Where can people find you online, Sadia? Where can they find you online? Oh, I mean, Twitter was my home, but it seems like Twitter's weird now. So if you're still on Twitter and you can see somebody outside of your own little circle, I'm always there. And Instagram, too. So those are my two places. And my name is still named there, Sadia Faroukis. As long as you spell it correctly, you'll find me.
00:19:57
Speaker
I have a website, you know, it's just a website. So it's got information about my books and things like that, but not really a place to connect. But I love social media. I mean, I love how weekend I've made a lot of really, really close friends with, you know, through social media. So I think that's a great place. And I also do a lot of giveaways of my books on Twitter. So
00:20:20
Speaker
It's always a good place to connect with me. Awesome. I want to thank you. This was so much fun. And I want to send you all the blessings, all the wishes, all the things, because again, I appreciate what you do for us as teachers, as educators, as authors.
00:20:38
Speaker
you're doing amazing work for us. So I appreciate you. Thank you. Well, I'm glad I get the opportunity every single day. I mean, how many people say that they do something that they really love and find meaningful. So, you know, I love having that as my primary goal. And thank you for inviting me because I mean, I had a great time talking with you. Oh, thank you. Thank you.