New Books! She Persisted: Malala, and the conclusion of the Young Wonder Woman series
Dear Reader,
It feels like everyone I encounter has no idea how time is flying so fast-- how we're officially more than halfway through 2022. Routines can do that. Lull you with their gentle hum as time slips on by. I've had a steady routine these last few years. We home schooled through the pandemic and had it down to a science: Daily assignment charts, monthly book clubs, weekly STEM projects and library visits on Wednesdays. In between it all, weaving tales when time would allow.
This August we've yanked the tablecloth off the whole routine. The children are back in school (Three. Different. Schools) and between pick ups and drop offs, and class meetings, and lunch prep and school supply scavenger shopping, and forms to sign and return this first week of school has lasted approximately 437 days thus far.
This will change. Soon we'll get the hang of it. Soon this new life will become our new routine. Soon, moments like right now sitting at my kitchen table with my steaming cup of chai typing this newsletter and hearing no sibling squabbles, or sharpening pencils--- nothing but the sound of silence (and the dryer-- why is laundry never done?)--- will feel utterly unremarkable.
A few bookish things since my last newsletter:
DIANA AND THE JOURNEY TO THE UNKNOWN, the final installment of the Wonder Woman Adventures series came out this May! The series chronicles Diana before she knows she's Wonder Woman. The stories explore friendship, and family (and monsters! and Greek mythology!) and have cliff hanger after cliff hanger after cliff hanger (sometimes literally!). For huge fans of comics and Wonder Woman it's learning more about who she was before-- but contemporary readers will also able to relate to the emotional ups and downs and coming of age for young Diana. I hope you'll check it out!
SHE PERSISTED: MALALA YOUSAFZAI hit shelves last month in July! I was honored to share Malala's story for a young chapter book audience-- in many ways she wasan inspiration for my middle grade novel, Amal Unbound, so I feel grateful I could tell her story. I was also thrilled to know her father enjoyed reading it too!
And the winner of the Malala chapter book giveaway are: gregandree, and aaklibrarian!!! Please shoot me an email at aishasaeedwrites@gmail.com with your mailing address and if you'd like it personalized and I will get it off to you ASAP :0)
Quick Craft Corner: Currently reading I DIDN'T DO THE THING TODAY by Madeline Dore each morning with my cuppa tea. It's got great insights from many creatives about routine and ruts and the pressure of productivity. Highly recommend for educators, librarians, writers and any and all Type-A personalities alike!
xx
Aisha
If you’d like to support my work, my books are listed below (available to purchase wherever books are sold). Just a reminder, the companion to Amal Unbound-- Omar Rising-- is now available!
If you’d like to bring me in for a speaking opportunity, please reach out to The Author Village and fill out the form here!
And as always if you liked one of my books, and are so inclined, please leave a review on Barnes and Nobles, Amazon or Goodreads they can make such a difference (and thank you so much for your support; authors cannot do what we do without your support)!
Yes No Maybe So (co-authored with Becky Albertalli) (young adult)
Bilal Cooks Daal (picture book)
Amal Unbound (middle grade)
Written In The Stars (young adult)
Diana and the Island of No Return (1),
Diana and the Underworld Odyssey (2)
Diana and the Journey To The Unknown (3)
She Persisted: Malala Yousafzai
Once Upon an Eid (co-edited anthology with S.K. Ali) (middle grade)