Author Interview: Reem Faruqi

Reem Faruqi used to teach second grade and her favorite time was Read Aloud time. Now, her favorite time at home is Read Aloud time to her 2 daughters. Of Pakistani origin, she moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, when she was a teenager. Reem based her first children’s book “Lailah’s Lunchbox” on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States. Reem Faruqi loves to doodle, write, and take photos. Check out her photoblog at www.ReemFaruqi.com! Currently, she lives with her husband and daughters in Atlanta.

Q. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What were your first attempts at writing like?

As a child, I received a birthday present that was a blue diary with pink bubblegum scented pages. I was hooked! When I’d written through that one, I started the next one. I still have all my childhood diaries from childhood up until now. Each time, I finish one, I promptly buy another one! So since I was young child, I loved to write. I also love libraries and book stores and have fond memories of going to libraries as a child. I always dreamed of having my own book in a library or a bookstore, and my dream has finally come true!

Q. Describe your path to publishing. How long did it take, what setbacks did you encounter along the way, and who helped and supported you?

I used to teach second grade. Once I had my first child 5 years ago, I took some time off and became a stay-at-home-mother. I really missed teaching and getting my creativity out. That’s when I decided to follow my dream of writing a children’s book. I wrote many different stories happily. I purchased books that gave advice on how to get published. I reached out to authors for advice. I believed my stories were fabulous! I then submitted all my stories and got rejections!

I was naturally disappointed, but receiving rejections is a natural part of the publishing industry. Rarely, do authors make it the first time. Now, I do admire my prior confidence! However, I had a glimmer of hope when one publishing company (Tilbury House Publishers) held onto one of my stories longer than usual for extra reviewing. Knowing that my story was good, but not quite good enough, kept me hope to keep on going.

I focused on photography for a bit, but realized I still wanted to get a children’s book published. I submitted a few stories again and again got rejections. I had another child and life naturally got busier. I read dozens of children’s books, looked at what already existed in the children’s book market, and tried again and wrote Lailah’s Lunchbox. This time, Tilbury House Publishers said they wanted to publish my story, and I was delighted! I still am!

Q. Why children’s books? How did you choose the genre and age category you wanted to write for?

Why not children’s books? Children’s books are therapeutic for me. My favorite time as a teacher was Read Aloud Time. I suspect for many of my students it was as well. Books have a way of soothing souls. When you have 22 restless second graders, you can pull out a good book, and all of a sudden, you have 22 attentive and imaginative listeners, soaking up every word.

We live in a world full of technology and devices that sap up our energy. I find reading books, especially children’s books, offer a calming space. Another reason I especially love children’s books is because of the illustrations. I love different art styles, water colors, etc! To have my story illustrated and come to life was a big moment for me. Lea Lyon did a phenomenal job creating Lailah and her painting with water colors brought an extra layer of warmth to the story.

Since I had taught second graders for four years, I targeted them when writing this story. I visualized their faces as I read it aloud to myself on my computer! I have had the opportunity to read Lailah’s Lunchbox to second graders and found it rewarding as they soaked up every word.

I chose to write a book about a Muslim, because I am a Muslim and believe we need to have more diverse children’s books representing people of different faiths and cultures. I found some amazing children’s books about Muslims and for one summer read dozens of books on Ramadan and Muslims to see what already existed. I didn’t find any books set in a school setting, a place where children spend so much time. I also wanted to make the story not just a Ramadan story, so beefed up the story by writing about Lailah’s immigrant experience, an experience I felt emotional when I moved to Peachtree City, Georgia from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

Q. In your opinion what are two or three qualities a writer must have in order to be successful?

Persistence – because you will get those rejections! I suggest recycling them or using them as book marks – I have done both!
Passion – if you love to write, the rest should fall into space. Give it Time. It may take a month, it may take years!

Read – Read as many books as you can! Read new releases, old releases, anything and everything. It helps strengthen your writing.

Edit – Find a good critique group. Trust Them. Trust Yourself.

Q. What does your writing future look like? What do you aim to do over the next five years?

I would love to publish many more children’s books for the rest of my life. I’m aiming to write more stories, edit them, submit them, and hopefully get them published. The tricky part is sitting down to write. I really need to do something about the stories that are floating around in my brain!