We chat with author Aisha Saeed about her tender genre-bending young adult novel, Forty Words for Love, two teen protagonists grow from friends to something more in the aftermath of a tragedy in their magical town.
Hi, Aisha! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! Thanks so much for having me here. I am really lucky that I get to write books for all ages from picture books, to middle grade, to young adult. I tend to mostly write contemporary realistic (Amal Unbound, Omar Rising, etc). Forty Words For Love is my first foray into the realm of magical realism. And is different from anything I’d done before. I was certainly nervous to try something new, but this was the story that was speaking to me. I am grateful to my editor, Zareen Jaffrey, and the Penguin imprint, Kokila, for supporting this novel and helping me realize my vision and what I was hoping to say with this story.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t remember a time that I did not write or love to read stories. Many writers say that telling stories is not a want, as much as it is a need. I certainly fall into this camp. I have been writing stories since childhood, long before I had any dreams of becoming a published author. I love diving into new worlds, exploring the truth of human nature within the pages of a fictional tale. Research confirms that reading fiction engenders empathy and compassion, and as a reader I certainly see this in my own life. As a writer I hope my stories can in turn engender empathy and understanding within those who pick up my stories.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading, that made me want to be an author, and that I haven’t stopped thinking about since are all one and the same: The Baby Sitters Club by Anne Martin. This was one of the first stories I read independently as a child, and I loved the throughline of friendship within the pages and the adventures within the pages. It’s pretty cool to see that this series remains as relevant today as it ever was.
Your latest novel, Forty Words for Love, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Love can heal what hurts.
What can readers expect?
Forty Words For Love is a dual point-of-view magical realism novel following the lives of two teens in a town on the brink of economic collapse following a tragedy. As people try to grapple with their grief, tensions are brewing between the locals and a group of people called the Golub – refugees–who have recently arrived. The story follows Yas, a local, and Raf, who is Golub, as they navigate these tensions and seek refuge in each other through these troubling times. The story explores what it is to love, and what we owe one another and ourselves.
Where did the inspiration for Forty Words for Love come from?
Forty Words For Love has been brewing within me for over half a decade. Within this story I draw from my own experiences of life after tragedy, and what it is to grieve and heal, and the way that love can see us through.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
While Forty Words For Love is a story set in a fictional land that is not our own, the themes within it about love, loss, and forging our own paths, are aspects that anyone can relate to. Telling stories is how I process my own thoughts and emotions, and that was certainly true in this book. Much of this novel’s revisions took place during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and this book was a much needed place to process, and to escape, during that difficult time.
Your debut novel published in 2015. What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned over the past eight years when it comes to writing and publishing?
I can’t believe it’s been eight years since my debut! I believe the biggest thing I’ve learned in the ensuing years is that so much of this writing business is out of our control, but the one thing we do have control over is the story itself and making it the best story it can possibly be. I try to use my metric of success not by outer markings (though those are fabulous when they happen), but by the satisfication I gain from telling the story and knowing I put the best possible story I knew how to out there in the world.
What’s next for you?
I have lots of different stories in various stages of production. None of these are stories I can talk about quite yet, but there are certainly many more to come in the coming years, and I hope you’ll check them out!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
We are in an abundance of riches when it comes to storytelling. There are so many wise and creative stories out there right now. The one on my nightstand currently is Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli. She and I co-wrote a young adult novel in 2020 called Yes No Maybe So, I’m a huge fan of her writing, and am so excited to finish up this newest book by her.
