US TALK
Can you recall some of the books you loved reading as a child? Well, in school, Roald Dahl and R.L Stine were among the most read authors, while at home Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book made the best bedtime stories. And later, Oliver Twist, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Little Women and other abridged versions of classics became our favourites. We never noticed that there was hardly any children’s-literature written by Pakistani authors.
Unfortunately, many authors aren’t interested in writing children’s-literature. But, we found one! Ayesha Hakeem, a young psychology student, thinks children are a reflection of God’s generous love and inspires her to write. At present, two of her books, Tales from the Treasure Chest and Fairy Tales of Ordinary Children have been published and sold around the world.
As an avid reader, Ayesha is well aware of the power of words; she knows how “words can light fires in the minds of men and wring tears from the hardest hearts.”
Dealing with publishers
We all have read how badly some great authors were treated by their publishers. Beatrix Potter got so disappointed after being rejected several times by publishing houses that she had to publish The Tale of Peter Rabbit herself. The writer of The Little Women, Louisa May Alcott was told to stick to teaching. And, Rudyard Kipling was told his English was pathetic.
“I was rejected a few times before getting a contract from Crimson Cloak Publication which is a small publishing house, but it doesn’t matter and I am quite happy with it. I think if you are a passionate writer, and creative, publishers will definitely give you a chance,” Ayesha shares her experience with the publishers.
Writers are readers
Ayesha tells us about her favorite children’s-literature, “I have always loved Secret Garden, Eight Cousins, Little Princess, The BFG and the list goes on. In Urdu, I also enjoyed reading Ishtiaq Ahmad.”
She also mentions, “Currently, I am reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Reclaim your Hearts By Yasmin Mogahed.”
On being a writer
The hardest thing for a writer is to overcome a writer’s block; it could be extremely frustrating. You want to write but you can’t. The other thing that troubles a writer is how to reach the audience; will they be interested in your book?
The best thing about being a writer is that you get to experience freedom of expression. It allows you to live, breathe and enjoy in places you can only imagine.
In this regard, Ayesha says, The Book Thief by Markus Markus Zusak mentions that it’s the words that have the impact. So I desperately wanted to use my words to bring a positive change in my surroundings. I also use words to describe the pain and sufferings of others through interactive tales.”
Overcoming writer’s block
“I just stop writing and wait for the words to come back. I haven’t found any way to keep myself writing when I can’t. It is rather same in every aspect of life; when I don’t feel like doing a thing, I do not force it upon me.”
Talking to us about her writing routine, Ayesha mentions, “I write in the farthest corner of the room on my bed. A cup of tea sometimes makes the experience even more enjoyable. And, I only write when I feel like writing.”
What’s www.wordscatcher.com
Ayesha has been awarded blogger recognition awards and liebster awards several times for her great content on thewordscatcher website. She mentions, “It’s an interactive online resource for young learners. It has flash fiction, learning resources, free printables, news about my work and social talk.”
Future plans
Ayesha’s future plans are note worthy: “I want to keep perfecting myself as a writer and become an inspirational author for the young readers; and also want to be an agent of change.”
Advice for young aspiring writers
Her advice for aspiring writers is sound: “Make sure you write for the love of writing and believe in the stories you create. Look at criticism positively and keep writing.”
Excerpt from Tales from the Treasure Chest
Twins from Exhortation Valley:
Some people wish to have everything in life, and this is what Sara wanted - just everything in life. Some people always envy what others have. They see themselves in the reflection of other people. Saira envied what her twin had and ignored her blessings. Fate took the twins to Exhortation Valley to make them realize what happens when we get everything in life and lose the blessings that we already have.
A Peculiar and Rackety child:
Abdul Jalil is a boy eager to try out different things. He sets out to experience everything. Things go well until he deviates from his mission in life and he ends up in a mess. Trying to find a way out, at last he finds that in life being human is being everything.
An amazing family’s holiday adventure:
This family arranges a holiday game with a difference. Stepping into the shoes of their parents, the children’s role-playing game opens their eyes to the difficulties of being a parent.