Kathie: Hi Jessica, and thanks so much for letting us be part of your cover reveal today! Your second middle-grade book, THE RABBIT’S GIFT, is set for release by Greenwillow Books on October 25th. Can you tell us a bit about it, please?

Jessica: Thank you for having me; it’s a pleasure to be here!

My sophomore novel was inspired by the French version of our stork mythology, which holds that instead of being delivered by storks, babies are grown in cabbages and delivered by fairies. In THE RABBIT’S GIFT, babies are grown in cabbage-like plants called Chou . . . and delivered by rabbits.  

The story is told in dual points-of-view and features a young runt named Quincy Rabbit, who is determined to brave the human world to find the purple carrot seeds that his starving warren needs to survive. The other point-of-view is a twelve-year-old girl named Fleurine, who happens to be the daughter of the most powerful human in the country. Fleurine longs to study botany but is expected to follow in her mother’s political footsteps, leading a country that believes science will destroy the natural order. When Quincy inadvertently leads Fleurine back to the top-secret warren where Chou are grown, they set off a chain of events that threatens to destroy both of their lives and jeopardizes the future of the entire country–– for rabbits and humans alike.

Kathie: This book is a standalone companion novel to The Wolf’s Curse. What made you decide to stay in this world?

Jessica: I’ve always thought of THE WOLF’S CURSE as my “death” book,  and I’ve always wanted to explore the exact opposite of that in a companion novel, but of course a “birth” book felt totally wrong for middle grade readers. I couldn’t figure out how to pull it off until I was brainstorming with a friend, and she asked if I was familiar with La Fée aux Choux (The Cabbage Fairy), which is a black and white silent film from 1900 that shows a fairy harvesting babies from cabbages. As soon as the words came out of her mouth, I knew I had my next story! At that point, it was just a matter of figuring out how to approach the mythology in a fresh way and making sure it complimented the world that I’d built in THE WOLF’S CURSE.

Kathie: Can you tell us what sort of reader you would recommend this book to?

Jessica: One of the things I love most about this book is that there’s something in it for everyone. Besides including animal and human POVs, the book explores various family dynamics in that Quincy comes from an enormous family, whereas Fleurine is driven by her status as an only child. In addition, the story balances magic and STEM, so it will appeal to fans of both fantasy and science. Between all of that and the themes of friendship, socio-economic disparity, and the delicate balance between humans and nature, I also think it would make a fantastic read-aloud for teachers and librarians.

Kathie: What’s one thing you enjoyed about writing the characters in this story?

Jessica: This book was particularly fun to write because both Quincy and Fleurine view themselves as the heroes of the story, and they are each convinced that the other is the villain. Although they both make a lot of bad decisions, the truth is that the two of them are doing their best with the knowledge and resources they have. I suspect readers will find themselves rooting for both characters!

Kathie: You were fortunate to have the same artists who did the cover of The Wolf’s Curse for this book. Can you tell us who they are and what you enjoy about the way their art showcases this story?

Jessica: The artists, Anna and Elena Balbusso, are twins from Italy; they knocked it out of the park with the cover for THE WOLF’S CURSE, and then they did it all over again with THE RABBIT’S GIFT! The two books are set in the same world, but they take place in different countries, each with their own unique magic. 

The stone rabbit on the cover of THE RABBIT’S GIFT represents the mythological rabbits in the story as well as a specific mountain that guides Fleurine and Quincy’s journeys. Fleurine is pictured holding the very Chou that nearly tears the country apart. The lush landscape and rich color palette bring to life the vivid fairy tale world I had in mind while writing the story. There’s a special nod to the resolution of the story on the cover, too, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise, so I won’t say more.

Kathie: OK, let’s show everyone the brand new cover for THE RABBIT’S GIFT!

Kathie: Oooh, I love the way the way the sun beams down over the rabbit’s shoulder onto the girl standing there. What a striking cover!

Kathie: What would you like readers to know about this book that we haven’t talked about so far?

Jessica: THE RABBIT’S GIFT is publishing during what I hope will prove to be the tail-end of a global pandemic; instead of coming together, we’re more divided than ever before, and we’re also facing a climate crisis that could have catastrophic consequences. The story is a fun fantasy, but I hope it also opens dialogues about our divisions, science, and the responsibility we have to save each other––and the planet.

Kathie: Where can people go to find out more information about you and your writing?

Jessica: The best place to find me is on my website at www.jessicavitalis.com. I’m also on Twitter as @jessicavitalis and on Facebook and Instagram as @JessicaVAuthor.

Kathie: I’m very excited to read your book, and I wish you all the best with the upcoming promotion and release.

Jessica: Thanks so much for your support, Kathie; it’s been wonderful chatting with you!

JESSICA VITALIS is a Columbia MBA-wielding writer. With a mission to write entertaining and thought-provoking middle grade literature, she often combines difficult and timely topics with magic and fantastical settings. As an active volunteer in the kidlit community, she’s also passionate about using her privilege to lift up other voices. She founded Magic in the Middle, a series of free monthly recorded book talks, to help educators introduce young readers to new stories. She was recently named a 2021 Canada Council of the Arts Grant Recipient. An American expat, she now lives in Canada with her husband and two precocious daughters. She loves traveling, sailing and scuba diving, but when she’s at home, she can usually be found reading a book or changing the batteries in her heated socks. 

Kathie: Welcome to MG Book Village, Nicole! Your upcoming debut novel, JUST RIGHT JILLIAN, comes out on February 1st from Versify Books. Can you give our readers a brief synopsis of it, please?

Nicole: Just Right Jillian is the story of a super smart, super shy 5th grader. She weaves, she sings, she runs…she does a little of everything except express her mind in public. She has promised her grandmother that she will be more confident in herself, and when the annual schoolwide academic competition rolls around, she finally has a chance to follow through. Of course, breaking out of her shell is much easier said than done! Jillian has to dig deep inside, and gets encouragement along the way from friends, family and some unexpected allies.

Kathie: One of the things I most enjoyed about your story is how well you captured the voice of young middle-grade kids. I know that you’re a former elementary school teacher. What and who inspired this story and your main character, Jillian?

Nicole: Thank you! I was a very shy child and grew up to be a relatively shy adult. I can point to many moments over the years where I wish I’d had the courage to speak up. I still remember the overwhelming combination of twisty nerves and disappointment I experienced throughout elementary school, wanting to say something and not being able to. I’ve long wanted to revisit that time and reimagine how it might’ve gone.

I mined my experiences as a teacher as well. At my school, all fourth grade classes hatched chicks, and it was a huge deal every spring. The kids loved it so much, and it always brought out new and fun aspects of their personalities. While drafting, I realized I could bring chicks into Jillian’s story, and they could be a pretty apt metaphor for her journey.

Kathie: I love that Jillian mentions that there’s a difference between someone who is shy and someone who is hiding. I felt that Jillian was both, but what are your thoughts?

Nicole: This is so insightful and you’re right, Jillian was both. People hide for all kinds of reasons, regardless of their personal traits. Maybe they don’t want to disappoint someone, or perhaps they haven’t accepted something about themselves. There are any number of reasons someone might hide their true nature. But when you’re shy, even what some may consider to be low stakes interactions can feel overwhelming. Ultimately, neither hiding, nor being shy feels good. 

Kathie: I’ve heard author Paula Chase talk about the importance of stories with Black characters that are about daily life rather than “issues” books, and I think you did that so well. What do you hope young readers see as the main themes in your story?

Nicole: I wanted to write a story about friendship, courage, and self-expression – things we all grapple with in one way or another. We’re all different, and we don’t have to conform or pretend to be someone else in order to live our lives more fully. But! We might have to do some reflection, or take some risks, and we might mess up along the way. All of that is a part of life. 

At the core, this is a love story. There’s generational love, and love from teachers and family members, love from friends, and self-love. There’s a lot of harshness around us and I really want to be known as one who writes love into the world. 

Kathie: I had red glasses as a child, so I related to Jillian’s attempt to add a punch of personality using color. Do you have a favorite article of clothing or accessory that helps you feel brave?

Nicole: What a great question! I have different articles for different reasons. I wear a royal blue shirt when I want to feel powerful, especially in front of certain types of audiences. I wear a turquoise dress to feel poised and charismatic. I also wear big dangling earrings and red lipstick to feel cheerful and confident (mostly on Zooms). I haven’t been out and about much during the pandemic, but when it’s cool enough, I love to wear fishnets and boots for more sass and pizazz. To me these are all nuanced ways of feeling brave. They help brighten something in me that may otherwise feel a little dim. 

Kathie: What has the debut experience been like for you so far?

Nicole: It’s been quiet actually, and a study in patience. There’s a long lead time in traditional publishing. I received an offer for Jillian in late 2019. Now it’s 2022. That said, things are picking up speed very quickly! I’m hoping to remain organized and somewhat relaxed so I can enjoy everything.

Kathie: Where can our readers go to find out more about you and your writing?

Nicole: My author website is www.nicoledcollier.com and I’m on Twitter, IG and LinkedIn. I haven’t blogged in recent months, but http://www.cocostudio.com is my first and favorite home online.

Kathie: I wish you all the best with your book’s launch next week, and thanks for taking some time to chat with me today.

Nicole: Thank you so much! I really enjoyed the conversation and I appreciate the opportunity. 

Nicole D. Collier was born and raised just south of Atlanta, Georgia. She taught elementary school before going on to work with learners of all ages. Now an author, consultant and executive coach, she’s been known to run, dance, and turn cartwheels on sunny days. Just Right Jillian is Nicole’s first novel.

Kathie: Welcome to MG Book Village, Leigh, and congratulations on the recent release of your new middle-grade nonfiction book PIRATE QUEENS: DAUNTLESS WOMEN WHO DARE RULED THE HIGH SEAS (released by National Geographic Kids). I just ordered a copy of it for my library, and I can’t wait to read it! Can you tell us a bit about it, please?

Leigh: Hi, Kathie! So thrilled to be here. And thank you for ordering Pirate Queens!

This is a book about forgotten bad guys of the biggest magnitude. Specifically, about six forgotten female bad guys, pirates who ruled the high seas, yet didn’t make it into the majority of the history books. Each swashbuckler has a riveting story that’s shared in the book, and it’s packed with fascinating details about their lives like what ships they sailed and weapons they used. Also, Pirate Queens is loaded with gorgeous, edgy, full-color illustrations, so it feels almost graphic-novel-like.

There’s Sayyida al Hurra, a Muslim pirate who dedicated her life to avenging the exile of her people during the Reconquista. And Sela, a woman driven to piracy over hatred of her brother, King Koller of Norway. And Artemisia of Caria, the first known female Naval commander and betrayer of the King of Persia, known for flying an enemy’s flag to lull them into complacency, then ramming their ship and stealing all their goods. Each woman’s story is more compelling than the next, and I’m so excited to play a part in expanding kids’ (and adults’) knowledge about who was there and what took place in real-life piracy throughout the ages.

Kathie: What piqued your interest in this topic, and can you share a bit about your research process?

Leigh:  Once I first read about Ching Shih, a Chinese pirate who was the most successful pirate in history, based on the size of her fleet and the people in her control, I was hooked. Ching Shih ruled 80,000 men. When I ask kids if they can name a pirate, it’s almost always Blackbeard they shout out first. Blackbeard ruled 400 men in his heyday. 400 vs. 80,000! And just about no one has ever heard of Ching Shih. It felt like such a clear example of gender bias, and it really bothered me.

Soon thereafter, my kids were “walking the plank” off the diving board at the pool one day, and it made me think of Ching Shih, so I asked them to name all the pirates they knew. It was a very short, very white, very male list. That did it. I set off to write Ching Shih’s story.

Lucky for me, Ariane Szu-Tu at National Geographic loved the poem I wrote about Ching Shih, and suggested we make a larger book, one that covered a variety of female pirates. That sounded like the best idea I had ever heard, and I asked if I could write each of their stories in a different verse form. Ariane loved that idea, and Pirate Queens was born.

For research, I began where I always begin—at the library. I read everything I could get my hands on about these women, and quickly realized that I needed a larger research library to access primary sources and other, more obscure sources not found at my local library. Luckily, I’m not far from The Ohio State University, and their reference-only section can’t be beat. For instance, I was able to lay eyes on Gesta Danorum, the Danish history book that references Sela and her pirating exploits.

And another tip of the hat to OSU in researching poetry. I identified verse forms that I felt were a solid fit with each pirate, but needed to tap into poetry experts to ensure that there was nothing I missed. There were poetry professors at Ohio State who were as generous with their time and knowledge as you can imagine, and who not only gave suggestions about the verse forms, but provided expert feedback on the poems themselves.

Kathie: If you could have joined any of the pirates you talk about in your book on a high seas adventure, who would you choose and why?

Leigh: Joining any of them would have been an incredible and terrifying adventure, to be sure, but I’d have to say Grace O’Malley. She was such a character, and her exploits are epic.

After O’Malley had robbed the English at sea for years and years, they had just about caught up with her. They had murdered one of her sons, held another captive and took nearly all of her possessions. She was the focus of obsessive Sir Richard Bingham, who had been tasked with bringing in the legendary Grace O’Malley. She wrote to Queen Elizabeth and requested (and received) an audience. Once there, though O’Malley was all but penniless, she presented herself as Queen Elizabeth’s equal, and asked that the Queen call off her seadog, Sir Bingham, and stated that she herself would stop attacking English ships. Queen Elizabeth was so impressed by her presence and her boldness, she agreed. Sir Richard Bingham was livid when he was told to leave Grace O’Malley alone, but he did. Fast forward a couple of months, and newly free Grace O’Malley broke their agreement and went right back to pillaging English ships,

My favorite Grace O’Malley story is that she gave birth below deck, and hours later, her ship was attacked by Turkish pirates. The crew begged her to come fight, so she set down the baby and took up arms. She successfully helped ward off the attackers, but not before angrily screaming at her crew, “May your lives be seven times worse off this time next year, that you cannot do without me for one day!” I love that. The new mom, exhausted from childbirth, has to go up and fight the pirates, all the while screaming, “Can’t you do ANYTHING without me???” Somehow, it feels so relatable. I mean, if I were a pirate.

Kathie: Why do you think young readers continue to love learning about pirates?

Leigh: Let’s see… treasure maps, chests of gold and jewels, pirate speak, parrots, making your enemies walk the plank, wild adventures at sea…. You have to admit that life of the Hollywood pirate sounds amazing! But even when you dig into the real story, it’s almost always a fascinating one. Add knife-fights and sneak attacks and betrayal and terrifying villains, and you can see why kids are hooked. It’s literally the opposite of everyday life in childhood. Land vs. sea, rules vs. no rules, parents vs. no parents, humdrum days vs. non-stop action and adventure. It’s easy to picture yourself in the thick of it, even if you’d never actually do anything like become a pirate in real life. That’s the fun of it, for kids and adults.

Kathie: What’s one thing you learned about writing middle-grade nonfiction that you didn’t know before publishing this book?

Leigh: Everything! I mostly write picture books, and have a few out on submission right now. I envisioned the Ching Shih story as a picture book initially, until my editor rightly suggested that Pirate Queens made more sense for an older crew. This was my first foray into middle grade, so it’s all been a steep learning curve.

I know this is a unique book, and that this experience is certainly not a universal one, but in the case of Pirate Queens, National Geographic hired pirate experts to gather up a dossier on each pirate to present to Sara Gómez Woolley, the illustrator. I was just blown away and so grateful for the commitment to historical accuracy in the illustrations. Each folder included extensive details on things such as the length of the handles of swords that would have been used in each pirate’s country during the times they fought. Or the number of sails on a ship they would have sailed on. Or what would have been prized in their culture or was prized by their family, in order for Sara to design a crest for each pirate. I never imagined that it would be such a group effort, or how many people it takes behind the scenes to make a book like this come together.

Kathie: Is there anything, in particular, you’d like readers to know about this book?

Leigh: Yes! Pirate Queens is a great blend of entertainment and education. In it, each pirate’s story is told in a different verse form, so aside from the hidden history/ female empowerment/ pirate hooks (no pun intended), there’s exposure to six various poetry types. My favorite primary source in researching this book was the Articles of Interrogatory, which were the 18 questions that Grace O’Malley had to answer in a letter to gain an audience with the Queen of England. It made sense to have her story told in an epistolary poem, or a verse letter. For Sayyida al Hurra, her story is told in a ghazal, an Arabic poem with strict rules that enable a beautiful poetic expression. Anne Bonny was a fighter from birth, and she never stopped being a wild thing. I was thrilled to write her story in free verse, because she didn’t seem to be one who would abide by anyone’s rules.

Kathie: Where can our readers go to find out more about you and your writing?

Leigh: Please come find me at LeighLewisBooks.com and @leighwriting on Twitter and Instagram! I feel so lucky to have landed in the middle grade community, which is a warm and wonderful place to be.

Kathie: Best of luck with your book’s voyage into the world, Leigh!

Leigh: Thank you, Kathie! I’m such a huge fan of MG Book Village (and especially of #MGBookChat)!

Leigh Lewis is a children’s writer whose middle-grade debut, Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas (National Geographic Kids), spotlights six fierce female pirates, telling each of their stories in verse. Leigh’s adventures on the high seas have enabled her to call many places home, including Turkey, Greece, England, Japan and Russia, and she eventually navigated her way back to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Leigh spends her time there dreaming up stories for kids of all ages, buoyed by an amazing crew—her Turkish delight of a husband and their three swashbuckling daughters.

Hello and thank you to the MG Book Village for hosting me at a very exciting time: the launch day of my debut novel, The Way I Say It!

The Way I Say It (Charlesbridge) is about a sixth grader named Rory who can’t say R sounds (and therefore can’t say his own name). He thinks that’s his biggest problem until an accident forces him to confront conflicted feelings about a former friend. The two boys struggle to reconcile old wounds as they navigate their new normal with the help of speech therapist Mr. Simms, heavy metal music, and Muhammad Ali.

Many authors have ‘bumpy road to publication’ stories, and I am no different. In fact, it took five years to get from first contract to holding my first copy. (It was a frost-heave, pothole filled path!) And even before those detours, I had been journeying for six years on back roads where I’d garnered close to 200 combined rejections across multiple manuscripts.

It is said that writers and illustrators who pursue publication need more determination than is reasonable. I have to say that’s probably true. It’s not reasonable: eleven years, 200 rejections, with more to come. What in the world possessed me to keep going? Where was this persistence coming from?

What is going to keep you going toward your 2022 goals?

You may have heard this saying from British Novelist and Philosopher Iris Murdoch (it’s one of my favorites):

Here’s my spin:

 “One of the secrets to a successful writing life (or any big endeavor!) is continuous small encouragements.”

If you are going to have more determination than is reasonable, you will also need an arsenal of support. Here are some of my best suggestions for setting up your creative life in a way that ensures that the nearly incessant encouragement you’re going to need is never far away.

Encouragement from outside sources can be a huge lift to anyone in a solitary endeavor, and contests and awards are a great way to put your work out there. In 2014, I entered a picture book text and won a Tassy Walden Award (for unpublished writers in Connecticut). One of the smartest things I did, in hindsight, was to spend a portion of the winnings on a decorative mirror I’d had my eye on. We were a young family with a pile of bills, and the purchase felt like an extravagance. But, I bought the mirror, and I hung it in a spot that I’d pass by frequently. And on my worst days, when rejections were piling up and discouragement was nudging me to give up, this is what I’d see.

Every time I saw it, that dang mirror seemed to be saying: You’re not giving up. You’re an award-winning writer. You have the mirror to prove it!

Now, you don’t need to buy anything or start talking to your reflection like I did, but I do encourage you to have a physical object somewhere in your living space that will say to you daily: keep writing. Keep drawing. Keep creating. Keep going.

Another way to secure your daily dose of encouragement is to find your people and speak your goals out loud to them. There are writers and readers just like you, longing to connect and geek out about kidlit at the drop of a hat. Middle Grade Book Village is a perfect example of that type of community! Reach out in real life and on social media to connect. These are your people, we are your people, ready and waiting to encourage you, and looking forward to the gift of your support in return.

And finally, focus on what’s fun. There’s plenty of frustration and discouragement in life. You don’t need to give those any extra time. Give your attention and energy to the joy of doing the work, and to the fabulous people your particular journey has brought and will bring into your life.  

Look for any opportunity to give and receive continuous small encouragements so that the creative, amazing human you already are can continue to grow and reach toward that next goal.

Give it space. Give it time. And Don’t Give Up.

Nancy Tandon is a former speech/language pathologist and author of two middle grade novels, The Way I Say It (Charlesbridge, 1/18/22) and The Ghost of Spruce Point (Aladdin, 8/2/22). Her short story, Finders Keepers, was published with Heinemann for the educational market. Nancy lives in Connecticut with her family and is a fan of popcorn, reading, and literacy outreach programs of all kinds.

To find out more, or to get in touch with Nancy:

www.nancytandon.com

Twitter @NancyTandon

Instagram @_NancyTandon_

Goodreads 

Order a signed copy of THE WAY I SAY IT

Order THE WAY I SAY IT wherever books are sold

*We welcome Anne (A.B.) Westrick, author of the older-middle grade novel Brotherhood, to the MG Book Village Team! You can learn more about her at https://abwestrick.com/

Anne: Thank you, Maleeha, for stopping by MG Book Village to share a bit about your debut novel, Barakah Beats, which just came out in October from Scholastic. Could you start by giving us a super brief summary of the story?

Maleeha: Hi Anne! Thank you so much for having me. Barakah Beats is about a 12-year-old Muslim girl named Nimra Sharif and in the beginning of the book, she transfers to public school for the first time after spending her entire life in Islamic school. Nimra faces a number of challenges when she starts the 7^th grade, namely the fact that her best friend starts to ignore her around the other kids and Nimra suspects it has something to do with her hijab. To get her friend back and fit in at her new school, Nimra joins her school’s popular 8^th grade boy band and grapples with questions about faith, family, and friendships.

Anne: I was fascinated to learn that in Islam, music is hotly contested. I enjoyed reading your Author’s Note about the wide variety in Muslims’ preferences and allowances related to music and musical instruments, and in light of that, your decision to feature a Muslim boy band seems courageous. Why did you decide to make the band central to the plot?

Maleeha: Because of the way that I was raised, I faced a similar challenge that Nimra is facing in the book. Middle school was when my boy band obsession was at its peak, but I was never allowed to go to concerts or dance at events, even though my other Muslims friends’ parents did allow their kids to do both things. Because music is such a huge topic of discourse in the Muslim community, I wanted to show that there are many sides to it since we typically only see one side in mainstream media. Plus, what middle school kid doesn’t want to be asked to join a boy band and look cool to their peers? I thought the idea was fun!

Anne: Your protagonist Nimra experiences a number of humiliating moments in her new school. For example, because she wears a hijab, others assume she can’t speak English, can’t do sports, and hasn’t learned American history. To what extent did these moments come from your own experience, or from the experiences of others in your family?

Maleeha: Quite a few, sadly. In the past, I’ve gotten some strange questions and assumptions from people because I started wearing hijab at a young age. The question that bugged me the most and still rings in my head to this day is when I walked into school wearing hijab for the first time and someone went, “WHOA! What happened?” Like…I’d done something bizarre by putting it on in the first place.

Anne: The dynamic between Nimra’s parents and grandparents highlights generational tensions in her family. Why was it important for you to include the many scenes in which she observes her parents’ struggles with their parents?

Maleeha: I guess to show that we all have disagreements with our parents regardless of what generation we grew up in, and those of us that go on to have families of our own always have in mind the ways we want to raise our kids differently to make up for the things that we feel like we lost out on. Nimra is who she is because of the way her parents raised her. She has more emotional support and fewer insecurities about herself than her parents did growing up as first-generation immigrants.

Anne: I loved the sprinkling of Arabic through the story, such as, for example, “making wudu” (cleansing before prayer) and “Barakah” (divine blessing). Did you ever consider adding a glossary either to the book or your website? (I’m kind of a word-nerd, and would’ve poured over a glossary, if you’d given me one!)

Maleeha: I didn’t consider it because I briefly explain what the words mean within the text. Plus, they’re easy to Google! Readers will find far more information that way than if I provided a glossary.

Anne: What do you hope readers will take away from Barakah Beats?

Maleeha: I want one of the big takeaways from Barakah Beats – for young readers especially – to be that one’s faith can be uplifting and can motivate people to live their best, authentic lives while also respecting other people’s opinions and boundaries. Faith doesn’t always diminish down generations. Sometimes, it becomes stronger. Just because someone chooses to live a different way doesn’t mean they’re any less happy with the lives that they are leading.

Anne: Finally, Maleeha, where can readers go to learn more about you and your work?

Maleeha: Readers can follow me on Twitter or Instagram. My handle is the same for both: @malsidink. They can also visit my website at https://maleehasiddiqui.com/

Anne: Thank you for stopping by MG Book Village, and for writing such an engaging story!

Maleeha: Thank you so much for asking such thoughtful questions. I had so much fun with these!

Maleeha Siddiqui is an American writer of Pakistani descent who loves to tell unapologetically Muslim stories for all ages. By day, Maleeha works as a regulatory affairs professional in the biotech industry. She grew up and continues to reside with her family in Virginia. When she’s not working, reading, or writing, she likes to try new food and snuggle cats. Barakah Beats (Scholastic 2021) is her debut novel.