Blog

STEM Tuesday– STEM in Sports– Writing Tips and Resources

By on August 19, 2025   /   STEM in Sports, STEM Tuesday  

Get Your Gestalt Going!

Perception psychology is not one of the first things that pops into the mind when thinking about STEM. Perception is one of those things too often taken for granted. It runs in the background 24/7/365, helping the brain make sense of the world.

Gestalt psychology emerged in the early 1900s as a discipline devoted to explaining how the brain perceives experiences by establishing a structure as a whole instead of by its parts approach through automatic grouping and associations of the individual parts. Gestalt psychology, as its own discipline, disappeared after World War II, as most of the leaders of the field were German psychologists who fled Nazi Germany and had to reestablish a new career in new countries.

The principles and ideas, however, did not disappear but seeped into other disciplines, especially those involved with visual processing and visual design. Gestalt principles are key elements in graphic design and visual marketing.

Gestalt & Sports

Around 2004, when I was still coaching high school football and tasked with our training and conditioning program and methodologies, I ran across a 1999 New Yorker article by Malcolm Gladwell called, The Physical Genius.

After reading about NHL hockey great Wayne Gretzky, and his unique ability to “see” scoring opportunities on the ice in real time, it got me thinking about the possibilities and the potential of developing this type of gestaltian perception in high school athletes. Small tweaks is our existing drills and the creation of new drills with the mindset of developing the pattern recognition of our players in football situations.

See the patterns, drill the response. Repeat the patterns, repeat the response. Again and again until the response is second nature.

Chunking

Psychologists use the term “chunking” to describe how we store familiar sequences, like phone numbers and passwords, in long-term memory as a single unit, or chunk. These particular sequences are stored as a unit instead of as individual parts. Think about chess masters, top-shelf neurosurgeons, and great athletes like Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and Tony Gwynn.

These masters of their craft developed their skills through hours and hours of practice combined with visualization of their actions. They used Gestalt principles in both practice and in visualization to be prepared for any situation that might arise. That’s the physical genius.

Gestalt principles in writing? Is it even possible? Beyond the gestalt-leaning recognition of concepts formed from letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, etc., what can gestalt principles do as part of a writer’s toolbox?

Well, a breakdown of the basic Gestalt Laws might help the writer create stories where the whole shines because of the individual parts. We can also be aware of how perception works, so the good story ideas don’t get lost in the individual parts, and we don’t lose our readers.

Gestalt Laws

  • Figure-Ground Perception – How the brain visually distinguishes an object from its background.
  • Proximity – When objects are placed close to each other, they are perceived as a group.
  • Common Fate – Objects moving in the same direction are looked at as a group.
  • Similarity – When objects look similar to one another, they are perceived as a group or pattern.
  • Continuity –The objects are arranged such that the eye moves from one object to another.
  • Closure Principle – The eye fills in when an object is not completely enclosed or is incomplete.
  • Good Gestalt – The mind looks for order and simplicity in groups of objects or images.
  • Past Experience – Based on what was seen previously or repeated, the perception of the whole is saved. Chunking.

 As writers, we can train ourselves through our practice and by applying the Gestalt Laws to create satisfying stories, but that is not the only thing we can do. Reading can help develop these skills too. Look at reading as practice, like running through cones at football practice, as a way to hone our ability to see the patterns in the parts.

In writing, just as with football drills, see the patterns, drill the response. Repeat the patterns, repeat the response. Again and again until the response is second nature.

Incorporating a Gestalt mindset may not get one into the NHL Hall of Fame or become the greatest middle-grade author on Planet Earth, but it can help middle-grade authors create better and more satisfying stories.

Mike Hays has worked hard from a young age to be a well-rounded individual. A well-rounded, equal-opportunity sports enthusiast, that is. If they keep a score, he’ll either watch it, play it, or coach it. A molecular microbiologist by day, middle-grade author, sports coach, and general good citizen by night, he blogs about sports/life/training-related topics at www.coachhays.com and writer stuff at www.mikehaysbooks.com. Two of his science essays, The Science of Jurassic Park and Zombie Microbiology 101,  are included in the Putting the Science in Fiction collection from Writer’s Digest Books. He can be found roaming Bluesky under the guise of @mikehays64.bsky.social and @MikeHays64 on Instagram.

 

The O.O.L.F Files

This month on the Out Of Left Field (O.O.L.F.) Files, we take a deep dive into visual perception through Gestalt Principles, and a highlight reel from The Great One himself.  

What is Gestalt Psychology? Theory, Principles, & Examples via Simple Psychology

The Physical Genius. Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker, 1999

7 Gestalt Principles (Definition + Examples) via Practical Psychology

The Basics of Gestalt Theory – Lesson 1 – Graphic Design Theory

Top 10 Wayne Gretzky Moments

 

 

Back to Top

Interview with Author Melissa Dassori

By on August 18, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

The first time I met middle-grade author Melissa Dassori—for coffee at La Bomboniera, an Italian café in New York City—I was 12 minutes late. For those of you who know me, I am never late. And I do mean never. Although I can’t repay Melissa for the time she spent waiting for me (I offered ☺), I’m hoping this interview will get me back into her good graces. So… without further ado, please join me in welcoming Melissa Dassori to the Mixed-Up Files!

About the Author

Melissa Dassori is the author of J.R. Silver Writes Her World (Christy Ottaviano/Little, Brown BYR, 2022), which was praised by Publishers Weekly for “Balancing realistic relationship drama with magical undertones… with (deft) references to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” The book was also an Owlcrate Jr. Book Club Selection, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and a Washington Post Kids Summer Book Club recommendation.

Melissa’s latest novel, Greta Ever After is a Junior Literary Guild Gold Standard selection and releases tomorrow from Christy Ottaviano/Little, Brown BYR. Melissa lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters, with whom she likes to share books, spend time outside, eat ice cream, and travel. Learn more about Melissa on her website and follow her on Instagram.

Q&A with Melissa Dassori

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Melissa. I’m so happy to have you here. And again… my apologies for being late for our coffee date! ☺

MD: I’m excited to be here! I enjoyed our coffee so much, I didn’t even remember that you were late. It’s always a pleasure to meet another middle-grade author named Melissa, especially a fellow New Yorker!

About the Book

MR: Before we dive in, can you tell Mixed-Up Files readers a bit about Greta Ever After?

MD: Of course! Greta Ever After is about a seventh grader named Greta Starr who wants to make a name for herself as a student journalist but struggles to find scoops. She’s feeling pretty down when the biggest story she can imagine arrives at her doorstep—a cuckoo clock with an enchanted wooden figurine named Lulu inside. Lulu is not, of course, something Greta can report on, so she secretly sets in motion a series of events to write about, but her not-quite-honest stories get her in trouble with her friends. When Lulu offers her a tempting solution—to escape into the clock and enjoy a perpetual childhood—Greta has to choose between Lulu’s magical offer and embracing the challenges of growing up.

Character Study

MR: What inspired you to write Greta? How is the main character like you? How is she different?

MD: On the magical front, my husband’s distant-but-beloved German relative gave us a cuckoo clock from the Bavarian Forest for our wedding. It’s very charming, although we don’t always wind it because it’s also very loud! That clock, though, led me to Lulu.

And on the “real” part of the story, I think kids around Greta’s age, especially girls, can start to feel pressure to do things exceptionally well all the time. That sense of obligation can get in the way of taking appropriate risks, whether trying a new activity or raising a hand in class. But experimenting and making mistakes are so important to exploring oneself and the world, and to developing resilience, which we all need in life. I remember feeling afraid to fail as a kid—and more recently when starting to write!—and I wanted to explore that fear in this story.

Magic’s in the Air

MR: Like your debut novel, J.R. Silver Writes Her World, Greta Ever After includes magical undertones. What draws you to magical stories? Were you interested in magic as a child?

MD: Funny enough, I’ve always gravitated toward realistic fiction, both as a kid and an adult. That said, I’ve grown to love a hint of magic in middle-grade books and recently wrote a piece about ten of my favorites. I think a little magic adds fun to a story and can also offer a softer or more hopeful way to approach hard subjects.

As a writer, I’ve learned a lot about how to integrate magic into a novel effectively, like making sure the magical system is consistent and that the magical elements are truly integral to the story. Honing that storytelling ability has been a good professional challenge.

MR: As a follow-up, what about fairy tales? Grimms’ Fairy Tales gets a lot of airtime in this novel. Are you a fairy-tale fan? If so, do you have a favorite?

MD: I really enjoyed reading The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm while drafting Greta. I also thought about how much I loved the Disney versions as a kid, and how their heroines have evolved in good ways since. As Greta Ever After unfolded, I tried to drop little Easter eggs for fairy-tale fans. Some are pretty obvious and others are very subtle—maybe too subtle! Hopefully readers will spot and enjoy the allusions.

Truth or Consequences

MR: An important theme in the book is striving for the truth. This comes into play when Greta fabricates stories for the school newspaper and the line between fact and fiction becomes blurry. Can you tell us more about this?

MD: My publishing team at Christy Ottaviano Books/Little, Brown came up with a great last line for the back cover about Greta learning that the key to being a good friend and journalist is “striving for truth, not perfection.” I think that sums up a lot of themes in the book nicely. Aiming for truth or honesty—in journalism, friendship, or even sense of self—might not be all roses, but it’s likely the better course.

What’s the Scoop?

MR: Speaking of the school newspaper, were you involved in journalism at Greta’s age? If so, what drew you to it? What were your most memorable scoops?

MD: I wrote a few articles for my school newspapers but wasn’t involved in a meaningful way. That said, I’ve worked with a lot of journalists later in life and really admire what they do.

When I was trying to figure out what type of misdeeds Greta would commit to get herself in trouble, I decided to have her violate ethical reporting standards for a few reasons. First, a lot of kids do write for their school papers and may relate to Greta’s extracurricular interest. Second, whether a reader is involved directly with a newspaper or not, there are interesting discussions to be had about journalism ethics, media literacy, and the role of the Fourth Estate that I hope might emerge from this story.

And finally, as I mentioned earlier, I wanted Greta to mess up badly, and I wanted her to recover from her mistakes. So I was looking for something that would be consequential but not, for purposes of this book, too hurtful for any one character to endure. Greta’s ethical breaches get her in trouble, but the harm is something that, hopefully, she can work her way back from to regain the trust of her friends and of my readers!

Into the Woods

MR: In addition to writing for the school newspaper, Greta is involved in a school production of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine iconic 1986 musical, Into the Woods. What is the significance of the musical in terms of Greta’s journey? Also, what is its significance to you on a personal level? 

MD: Into the Woods actually took on a bigger role as the book evolved. When I started writing, my first thought was to include a musical so Greta could try two new things, acting as well as reporting. But after reading the first draft, my editor encouraged me to lean into the fairy tale elements more, including through the show.

So as part of my research, I read and watched interviews in which Sondheim and Lapine talked about the show’s messages around growing up and understanding ways that we’re connected to other people. I tried to bring out those threads through Greta’s choice between a somewhat self-centered, never-ending childhood and the more complicated path of maturing, which comes with the challenges and rewards of community. I also appreciate how the show’s heroines take control of their destinies, like Cinderella leaving her initially-perfect prince and Rapunzel rebelling against the witch’s overprotective tower. Similarly, Greta must decide if she wants to retreat into the safety of Lulu’s clock or forge ahead through the scary woods of middle school!

MR: Your book features gorgeous illustrations by artist/graphic designer Dana SanMar. Did you have any say in the art-selection process? The illustrations couldn’t be more perfect for your book

MD: I love them as well! I think the illustrations add such a special touch to the book.

The art selection is mostly done by the editorial team, along with an in-house art director who works with Dana. Much of the vision is left to the illustrator, and I think of my job as similar to fact-checking. That could be something mundane, like catching that a character’s hair is a different length in the illustration than elsewhere in the text. Or occasionally I’ve offered comments that are a bit more abstract.

For example, in my first book, J.R. Silver Writes Her World, one of my favorite illustrations features a new teacher on her first day of school. She looked friendly in the initial sketch—as one might hope a teacher would look!—but we tweaked it so her facial expression became more neutral in a slightly-mysterious way to better fit her role in the story.

Perseverance vs. Perfectionism

MR: Rumor has it you enjoy doing author visits. One of the topics you cover is “Perseverance vs. Perfectionism: Getting from Plot to Page.” Can you tell MUF readers more about this? Also, what has your path to publication been like? Smooth sailing or bumpy seas?

MD: Sure! In the presentation you mention, I tease out some of the themes we’ve been talking about—trying new things and not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. It’s fun to hear all the ways kids are putting themselves out there, like picking up a new sport or trying out summer camp. One thing I did for the first time recently is get a dog, and they love telling me about their pets! We celebrate these adventures during my visits.

But I also emphasize that experimentation and disappointment happen even when you’ve got experience under your belt. So while I share some of the many reasons editors turned down my work before I got published, I also tell them about books I’ve drafted after debuting that will never see the light of day, which also goes to your question about my path to publication. I’d say it was somewhere in the middle. I got an agent pretty quickly, but it took a while to sell my first book. That said, it was worth the wait and I ended up with a fabulous editor who’s made my stories and storytelling so much better.

Melissa’s Writing Routine

MR: What is your writing process like, Melissa? Do you have a specific routine or word-count goals? Any writing rituals? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

MD: In terms of process, I try different things for different projects, and for different phases of projects, so I’m kind of all over the place! I have a group of writer friends with whom I chat regularly and have check-ins while writing, which is great for camaraderie and accountability.

Despite my lack of consistent process, there are a couple things I’m committed to when editing. The first is to re-outline once I have a start-to-finish draft and before making big changes. I don’t include much detail, but I go chapter by chapter, and it helps me figure out what to move or where to make additions.

Similarly, a friend introduced me to a great chart by Kate Messner that I use as a model. I put each chapter across the top, and on the side I list characters, settings, activities (e.g., musical rehearsals or newspaper-related scenes for Greta), etc. As I’m working on the above-mentioned outline, I check off items in the chart for the chapters in which they appear. Then I can see, for example, that a character I introduced in Chapter 2 didn’t appear again until Chapter 22, or that a thread I wanted to emphasize popped up too sporadically to pack much punch. The visual representation really helps.

Second Time Around

MR: As above, Greta Ever After is your second middle-grade novel. How will your experience as a previously published author affect your approach to launching and marketing novel #2? What will you do differently this time? What will remain the same?

MD: That’s a good question. I would say that I was kind of shy, for lack of a better word, about becoming an author. I hadn’t met a lot of writers and didn’t tell a lot of people about my interest in writing. When J.R. Silver came out, I’d just started making connections in the industry, particularly with a group of early-career authors who’ve since become important to me personally and professionally. I’m also more confident pitching myself. So, for example, my very first podcast interview is coming up soon. It’s the result of reaching out to the host of a show that I enjoy, and that’s something I didn’t have the confidence to do the first time around.

MR: Finally, what’s next on your writing agenda? Any new projects you can tell us about?

MD: I’m currently working on an upper middle grade story. This one doesn’t have a magical element, but I’m having fun so we’ll see where it goes.

LIGHTNING ROUND!

MR: Oh! One last thing. No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Black tea with milk and sugar.

Magic: Fact or fiction? Eternal question?

Coffee or tea? I think I gave away the answer already!

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Fully nay.

Superpower? Maternal multi-tasking, which can also be a flaw.

Favorite place on earth? I’m going to go with New York City. {Nice choice! — MR}

You’re stranded on a desert island, with only three items in your possession. What are they? Oh gosh. I like the beach but hate the heat, so it would probably be something for shade, something to read, and something salty to snack on.

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Melissa—and congratulations on the forthcoming publication of Greta Ever After. I thought it was fab, and I know MUF readers will agree!

MD:

Thank you, and thanks for having me!

Author Melissa Roske smiling and signing a book at a bookstore event. She is seated at a wooden table in front of bookshelves, wearing a sleeveless purple dress.

Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest (just the funny ones), and received certification as a life coach. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Back to Top

WNDMG Wednesday- Author Interview with Marzieh Abbas

By on August 13, 2025   /   Diversity, WNDMG  

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Marzieh Abbas. Marzieh is a celebrated award-winning author of so many books- from chapter books to picture books to beautiful board books. I have loved so many of her books, and my kids love them too!

And I am so excited to interview her about her debut gorgeous new middle grade novel in verse!

Her title is called “Aarzu All Around” which launched from Salaam reads/Simon Kids on July 29, 2025.

I love Muslim representation and verse novels, and I cannot wait to read this one!

About Aarzu All Around:

Description taken from online:

“Heartfelt and triumphant.” —Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor–winning Author of Red, White, and Whole

A cricket-loving Pakistani girl stifled by patriarchal expectations disguises herself as a boy to get a job to pay her sister’s medical bills in this “lyrical action-packed debut full of determination and grit” (Reem Faruqi, award-winning author of Golden Girl).

Living with her aunt and patriarchal uncle in Karachi, Pakistan, recently orphaned twelve-year-old Aarzu detests the way she and her younger sister get treated like extras and excluded from all the fun stuff. Aarzu dreams of playing cricket, just like her male cousins and the neighborhood boys in the streets, but her uncle will hear nothing of it. According to him, girls ought to master the art of making round rotis, not play sports.

When her sister requires urgent medical treatment but finances are tight, Aarzu decides to earn money herself. She hears of a part-time job at a bungalow near her school—but it’s only open to boys. Aarzu has no choice but to disguise herself as a turban-wearing boy to get the gig.

Now, Aarzu must find a way to balance school, work, chores, and secret cricket practices—all without burning out or getting caught by her uncle—or else her dreams of making the girls cricket team and her quest to save her sister will crumble around her.

Interview with Marzieh:

I loved getting to talk to Marzieh about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her and Aarzu as well.

MA: Thanks for having me, Shifa! I’m currently using one of your books as a mentor text, so it feels extra special to be here, chatting with you today!

SSS: Thank you!

First off- what a gorgeous cover. I loved how you included cricket. I actually don’t know anything about cricket, and I am sure so many readers will be learning a lot about it! Did you set off knowing you wanted to write a book about this sport? (side question: do you play!)

MA: I love the cover too! Chaaya Prabath is so talented, and I love that she read (and loved) the whole book despite having a brief for the elements I wanted on the cover. I’ve been extremely lucky with all the talented artists and teams I’ve gotten a chance to work with.

Coming to the second part of your question, I’ve been getting messages from readers about how much they enjoyed learning about cricket. There’s a short section where I explain how it’s played and who doesn’t love learning about a new sport?

Some background to why I chose to write about cricket: I was born, and grew up in the UAE till I was 12. When we moved to Pakistan I turned extremely patriotic— suddenly, I felt like I belonged and it wasn’t hard falling in love with cricket in a cricket-crazy nation. I mean, I used to watch the game with my Abu, my dad, even when we lived in Dubai, but experiencing the atmosphere in Karachi during a match is a completely different experience. The whole muhalla, or neighborhood, throbs with excitement! When I decided I wanted to set the book in Pakistan, I knew I wanted it to center around cricket. I never got to play, though. In school, we played baseball and netball, and growing up, there wasn’t a girls cricket team in Pakistan. I used to watch the neighborhood boys play and remember wanting to, but not being allowed (by the boys) to play. After I got married, I played with my nephews and nieces sometimes, but never with proper rules, always just for fun.

SSS: As a mom of three Muslim girls, I love Muslim representation to empower them and make them feel proud of themselves. And I love the hijab on the cover too! How was the process writing the hijabi and Muslim rep in the book?

MA: Oh, it came very naturally to me. I’ve been wearing the hijab since I was nine. Despite living in Muslim countries, I have often felt judged for my hijab. I purposely didn’t want all the girls in my novel to be hijabis, because I wanted to show we Muslims aren’t a monolith in our practices. I also wanted to show girls who were curious about Aarzu’s hijab, because not everyone understands the significance it holds in our faith, and this was an opportunity to showcase my faith and beliefs. I hated being questioned about my hijab when I was younger and honestly got tired of answering questions like ‘aren’t you hot in it?” or “can you hear us clearly?” Even though those questions sometimes came from a place of curiosity and concern. My favorite thing to do once I’ve finished a book is write the dedication and this is what I have down for Aarzu All Around:

For all the hijabis.

May our stories be celebrated,

Our voices heard,

And our dreams realized.

Ameen.

SSS: I love reading books set in other countries. How was it writing the book set in Pakistan? Was it fun to include details?

MA: It was! I found myself rediscovering sights and sounds I used to find fascinating when I was new to Pakistan. The bazaars and alleyways are a vibe and I wanted to capture all the beauty in the chaos for foreign readers! The flowers, the birds, the foods, the scents, everything!

SSS: I know your book is about girls overcoming misogyny, which is a problem not exclusive to Eastern society but is present unfortunately in different forms around the world! Can you tell us a little bit more about how Aarzu deals with this issue?

MA: Aarzu and her younger sister, Sukoon, have to deal with a misogynistic uncle, in whose house she stays after her parents pass away in an earthquake. While this may come across as a stereotype to readers who only read the book’s description, I go into a lot of detail in the book to make it clear that not all eastern men are the way that the media frames them to be. We often confuse cultural norms with religious rulings, which is really unfair to Islam. I wanted to make it clear that Islam gives a lot of respect to women, and our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) lived this in his dealings with his daughter, Fatimah, and other women. I also draw upon other stories from the Quran and the strength of women mentioned in several chapters of the Quran, and significant women in Islamic history—- it is their stories of strength and resilience that Aarzu uses to eventually come clean… sure she makes some mistakes along the way, hiding her choices (and thus lying), but all along she feels the prick of guilt because she knows her religion teaches her better. But, I had to keep her character real, flawed, and believable.

Link to order here.

Writing Process

SSS: When did you start writing the story and was the process a long one?

MA: I took about six months to write this novel. I was also simultaneously learning how to write this longer form– learning about where which beats in the story should fall and how to weave in backstory and all that fun stuff. So, no, I wouldn’t say it took long to write. I did spend a lot of time revising once i got the bones of the story down.

SSS: How is the process of writing a novel in verse different from picture books and chapter books?

MA: I feel writing longer form is challenging because of the number of threads and themes you have to keep track of. You also need to significantly develop side characters and keep track of what you reveal when. Since I was coming from a background of writing picture books (which are just 500ish words) and early reader chapter books (my Nadia & Nadir series), I needed a way to keep myself more organized. I set up a spreadsheet to keep track of the timeline as I revised and also used a wall in my house to colorful sticky notes for each act in the novel. This way I could move things around and add and subtract scenes as I revised.

SSS: Any advice for fellow middle-grade authors?

MA: I’d say find yourself 3-4 beta readers and do get feedback on your premise before you begin writing– it always helps to know what people think of your initial idea and what parts aren’t making sense and what parts are working. Once you start writing, I feel it’s good to hold off on feedback until you’re done with a first draft. With my current WIP I got feedback too early and now feel torn about which direction to go in. It’s back to the drawing board and some journaling for me to figure out what I really want my story to be about–what message do I want my readers to takeaway? What discussions do I want my book to spur?

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Is there anything I haven’t asked that you’d like to share with us?

MA:How is it living on the opposite side of the globe to where your book releases?

Answer: It’s so tough! I don’t get to physically see my book on bookshelves and don’t get to do readalouds or booksignings. It isn’t always convenient to travel and connect with your target audience. Everything has to be virtual and isn’t as special as it would be in-person! Marketing and getting booked for author visits is also a struggle, because it’s so much easier to reach out if you live/can travel to different libraries and schools in your vicinity. My books also take a while to become available locally and so even though I have friends wanting to support my work, there’s a big lag. But I’m so grateful to be doing what I do.

SSS: What else can we look forward to from you?

MA: I have a new nonfiction picture book, THE CAMEL LIBRARY, A TRUE STORY FROM PAKISTAN, and a board book, RADIANT RAMADAN, releasing this year.

Thank you Marzieh for joining us!

For more Pakistani rep in MG books check out these two interviews, here and here!

 

About Marzieh Abbas:

Marzieh Abbas is a baker turned award-winning author. She loves adding magic to her creations, from a seven-layered rainbow cake to the books she writes for children all over the world. Her work is inspired by her Pakistani culture and Muslim heritage. Marzieh is a member of Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge and a graduate of the Lyrical Language Lab and Children’s Book Academy. She is the author of the popular chapter book series Nadia and Nadir and the middle grade novel Aarzu All Around. A Dupatta Is… is her debut picture book and she has several upcoming board and picture books. She occasionally writes under the name Marzieh A. Ali. Marzieh enjoys learning new skills, jumping rope, sipping chai, and observing nature. She dreams of owning a talking parrot someday. But until then, she lives in Pakistan with her husband and children who inspire her daily. You can find her on the web at MarziehAbbas.com.

Back to Top