Author. Journalist. Poet.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BANNO is an incredible debut collection. Already so excited to re-read it, and so grateful to brilliant Kiran Bath for answering all my questions! I can’t wait to read more from her.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BANNO is available for purchase here!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
Season 7 is off to a robust start with Pakistani-American romance author Aamna Qureshi, who has published numerous books despite her young age. I deeply enjoyed speaking to Aamna after her international travels and my own multi-state road trip last weekend!
Aamna’s latest book, IF I LOVED YOU LESS, a romantic comedy retelling of Jane Austen’s EMMA, will be out on July 18 in the U.S. and is available for purchase here! Aamna also shared the title of her next book (for the first time) during our conversation!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
I had such a restorative conversation with one of my favorite poets, Diannely Antigua, following the release of her sophomore collection, GOOD MONSTER!
I met Diannely Antigua at Open Mouth’s third annual poetry festival, for which she was a featured reader, and it was one of the most moving readings I’ve ever experienced. I talked about it and UGLY MUSIC, Diannely’s debut collection, last year during National Poetry Month.
Needless to say, I was eagerly anticipating GOOD MONSTER’s release— and it did not disappoint!
GOOD MONSTER is available for purchase here!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
I had a great time talking to composer and musician Amos Cochran, a fellow Artists 360 alum and long-time friend. Amos claims he “has a huge thing against words,” but he gave me some great writing insights!
Background music in this interview:
“Sailing” by Amos Cochran
“Unscored” by Amos Cochran
Amos’s Music Library, Edit/Score:
https://www.editscoremusic.com
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
I had so much fun exploring the Nightshade Crown trilogy last month through its first two installments, The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen. I had even more fun talking about them with their author Hannah Whitten, who was kind enough to answer all my questions and is my Season 6 featured guest!
Some topics of discussion: Embarking on alternative paths to success, exploring real-life meaning in engaging fantasy worlds, observing the upcoming eclipse, and curating an immaculate social media aesthetic!
Plus, in a spoilers-only section, Hannah shares her favorite twist and scene in the latest installment!
The Hemlock Queen will be released next Tuesday, April 9, and is available for preorder now!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
I can’t believe it’s already the end of the Season! I had so much fun talking to Chinese-Iranian poet and editor Saba Keramati about her stunning debut collection Self-Mythology, a finalist for the 2024 Miller Williams Poetry Prize from the University of Arkansas Press!
I’ve long been a fan of Saba’s work, and I already can’t wait to revisit this collection.
Some topics of discussion: an unexpectedly early release, a fixation on the self, a behind-the-scenes look into the poetry prize submission process, the significance of mirrors and memory, Anne Carson’s impact, and dealing with loneliness and fear as a writer.
Self-Mythology had a surprise early book release and is already available for purchase!
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
In the midst of a very busy few months— I got married in December! And moved out of my apartment!— I had such a great time talking to Sarah Ghazal Ali, fellow Pakistani poet and long-time internet friend. Sarah and I talked at length ahead of the release of her brilliant debut full-length collection Theophanies— Editors’ Choice for the 2022 Alice James Award and easily one of my favorite 2023 reads.
Some topics of discussion: finding time to write as a new parent, an intricately involved writing process, a mutual fascination with sticky notes & birds, a fear of mirrors, and what it means to “parable a name”!
Theophanies will be out next Tuesday, January 16 from Alice James Books!
Preorder it here: Alice James Books, Pegasus Books
Interested in being a future featured guest? Let me know!
I am now booking for 2024!
Hiba Tahir 