I’ve always struggled with writing short stories and I have the utmost respect for writers who are able to write them. It takes so much skill, being able to condense an entire story into a few hundred words! If you’ve followed my journey for a while, you’ll know that #FindingMrPerfectlyFinewas about 50k words over the limit and I had to butcher and hack those 50k words off during my first round of edits with my agent 😆🙊 it was by far the toughest edit I’ve ever done!

So yeah. I struggle with keeping things concise 🙊

But the other day, my editor asked me if I’d be up for writing a short story for #TheDailyExpress Sunday magazine, Love Sunday People.

I love a challenge… so yeah. I did it. I wrote a short story called Speed Dating at the Mosque and I did it in less than 900 words!!!

That’s one writing challenge off my bucket list, alhamdulillah!

I’d been wanting to read this book for ages, and was thrilled when I discovered it in @readwithsamia goodie bags from @thediversebookshelfpod second anniversary event – I was like YES, I’m gonna take this on holiday with me (despite the fact that it weighs 2kg and gave me a hand cramp… I’m too old for hardbacks 🤣)

And I’m so glad I did! Hidden Fires is a story of family secrets, past and present, told from the perspective of three family members from three generations. There’s Yusuf, who recently lost his wife and fumbles through life alone as dementia slowly clouds his mind. There’s Hassan, Yusuf’s youngest son, who is struggling to cope with his stressful job and family circumstances. And then there’s Rubi, Hassan’s daughter, who is the victim of horrific bullying online and offline but hides the extent of the impact it has on her mental health from her family. 

The story starts with the Grenfell Tower fire and the way the tragedy triggers Yusuf and brings forward traumatising memories that he has been hiding his entire life ever since the Partition…. 

There’s so much to unpack here, but what I loved the most was the relationship between Rubi and her grandfather, and how they both help each other heal from their traumas and secrets. Yusuf definitely stole my heart and reminded me a lot of my dad. 

May God protect our elders and loved ones – having supportive family really is a privilege and @sairish.hussain had me tearing up constantly whilst on holiday with how beautifully she depicted those complex relationships. 

Now excuse me while I go and listen to the @thediversebookshelfpod interview with the author – I’m not quite ready to let these characters go.