Hi, Sara! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m a second-generation Pakistani-American Muslim, born to immigrants from Karachi, Pakistan. Although I was born in Orlando, I’ve lived in multiple states – including New York, New Jersey, Florida, Washington, Michigan, and now Texas. I have a B.A in Radio/Television from the University of Central Florida and worked as a freelance writer for a few years after graduating. In 2020, I graduated with my M.A in Counseling from Northwestern University, and I currently work as an outpatient mental health counselor primarily treating individuals presenting with anxiety, depression, and trauma. I have always been interested in people’s inner experiences and why we do the things we do, a curiosity that serves me well both as a writer and as a mental health counselor.

Welcome to 2022! What are you hoping for the year and do you set any goals or resolutions?

I hope that this year brings better health and overall wellness and prosperity to everyone. My resolution for this year is to prioritize self-care and focus on meeting my own emotional and mental needs. I’ve had it recently pointed out to me that I work a lot, and while I enjoy the work I do during the day as a mental health counselor, it can be emotionally draining if I don’t recognize my limits and abide by them.

Another goal I have is to find a better balance between spending time with family and writing. Because I spend most of my day in counseling sessions, evenings are for writing – and family time, and I struggle with guilt over not spending time with my family while also not devoting enough time to my writing.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I actually can’t remember a time when I didn’t know I loved writing. Some of my earliest memories are of  my mother taking me to the library. She would read to me at night, and it was a nightly ritual I enjoyed. As soon as I learned to write, I started making my own picture books. I couldn’t write many actual words at that point, so I would make up words just to create the book. I remember the first one I made followed a female, brown doctor throughout her day – modeled on my experiences with my dad, who would occasionally take me to work with him so I could see what he did.

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 on my own is Corduroy by Don Freeman. I was obsessed with it!

It may have been more of the experience of going to the library than any specific book for me, but books I remember loving and being inspired by to this day include Corduroy by Don Freeman and The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.

A book I always return to and think of often is The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan, a historical fiction based on the life and love of the Empress Noor Jahan. My paternal family is distantly related to Noor Jahan’s, and I have always been fascinated by South Asian history, especially around the Mughal era.

Your debut novel, Salaam, with Love, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

A girl’s journey to self-actualization.

What can readers expect?

Salaam, with Love is about self-love, loving other people, and loving God. My main character, Dua, has a lot of insecurities around feeling like she’s not a “good enough” Muslim. No one really behaves in a way that gives her that impression, but she views life and others through that lens. Throughout the course of the novel, she learns more about Islam and its place in her life, and through her faith she also connects with her family and gains the courage to pursue her own dreams. She’s a talented musician, but an average girl – and she’s supposed to be. Dua could be your neighbor, classmate, or friend.

Where did the inspiration for Salaam, with Love come from?

Nowadays, there are so many brilliant authors like S.K Ali, Uzma Jalaluddin, and so many others, but when I was growing up, it wasn’t easy to find books with Muslim main characters in them that were in the mainstream media, characters who actually were proud, unapologetic Muslims. So with Salaam, with Love I wrote the book that I, as a Pakistani-American Muslim, wanted to read and see on bookshelves when I was a young adult. I wrote my characters as people I would’ve wanted my peers to know and think of when they thought of the word “Muslim,” because positive, practicing Muslim representation is something that is not seen nearly enough in mainstream media. While I don’t have particularly close relationships with most of my cousins because of significant age differences, that sense of belonging and family was always something I longed for. So I gave Dua the family relationships I craved at her age.

Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

My biggest challenge while writing is always to just keep writing. I don’t see plotting as a strength of mine and I also have perfectionist tendencies, so I get frustrated when I hit a slow point or tough part of the story. Ultimately, I force myself to just get some words on the page because I can always go back and fix them later, and I sincerely believe the stories I have are worth telling. I have a few very close friends I’ve enlisted to keep me accountable, and I would send them each new chapter of Salaam, with Love as I was drafting. If I went too long without writing something, they would bring it up and demand to know when the next chapter was coming, so that helped keep going.

Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Yes, absolutely! I enjoyed writing all of Dua’s scenes with Hassan and exploring her feelings around having a crush on another Muslim for the first time. Her relationship with her older cousin Mahnoor is a bit prickly at first, and so her first bonding scene with Mahnoor is very close to my heart.  Finally, I really put a lot of myself into Dua’s internal dialogue while exploring her faith and connection to God, and those scenes are also very precious to me.

I also adore Haya’s character. She’s a great foil for Dua in many ways, very sure of herself and her faith, outspoken, yet incredibly humble and supportive as a friend. Haya is actually one of the first characters I came up with!

This is your debut novel! Can you tell us what the the publishing journey was like for you?

Like many other things in my life, my publishing journey was initially long-winded and bumpy but then accelerated toward the end. I finished drafting Salaam, with Love in 2012. Back then, its working title was The Ramadan Checklist, in reference to a tool Dua uses to frame her experiences during Ramadan. I started querying shortly after, and signed with an agent in 2015. Things didn’t work out with that particular agent, but through her I got connected with my current agent, Jamie Vankirk at Rainbow Nerds Literary.

The manuscript then went through a few rounds of revisions and then submission. Using the feedback we received, we then did more revisions and submissions. It wasn’t always easy; occasionally we would get some pushback because my characters don’t touch (in accordance with Islamic guidelines) even though Salaam, with Love is a romance, but I’m incredibly grateful for Jamie because she never gave up on Dua’s story.

In March 2021, I finished a round of revisions that I felt really great about, sent them to Jamie, and prepared to go on vacation. I was completely at peace and content with the work I’d put in on those revisions, in a way I probably hadn’t felt before. The same day, I got a text from Jamie asking if I could call her before I got on the road. That’s when I learned that Wendy Loggia, my editor at Penguin Random House, read the whole manuscript in one day and wanted to make an offer. That kind of go-getter energy is perfectly aligned with my personality, so of course Jamie and I happily agreed.

Everything from that point on was pretty fast-paced, and I had a fantastic team to work with throughout the process, especially Wendy Loggia and Alison Romig, associate editor.

While it certainly had its challenges, I wouldn’t change a thing about my publishing journey. I learned a lot from it, which informs my current approach to writing and pitching. Throughout the process, I also learned to never give up on my dreams or my principles.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

The best advice I have received is just to keep writing and to tell the story you want to tell, and trust it will find its audience.

I can’t think of any advice I’ve received that I would say is the “worst,” but I would say any advice that requires you to go against your values and your own vision should be considered with a grain of salt.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a Mughal-inspired fantasy. If all goes well, maybe we’ll see it on shelves one day! I also have an idea for an adult romance that I’d like to work on in the future, possibly featuring one of Salaam, with Love’s side characters as a main lead.  

Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?

Absolutely! There are so many great books I’ve been enjoying: Love from A to Z by S.K Ali, Huda F Are You? By Huda Fahmy, A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen, The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad, Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean, and Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian – I was fortunate enough to read an e-ARC and highly recommend it! I’m also looking forward to reading The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman, which is next on my list.

Will you be picking up Salaam, With Love? Tell us in the comments below! 

The post Q&A: Sara Sharaf Beg, Author of ‘Salaam, With Love’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The YA genre is not holding back when it comes to 2022’s upcoming book releases! Between the months of January and June, readers are going to be delighted as to what they can get their hands on with books from favourite authors, to those making their debut!

From stories of love, magic, and mystery, to retellings, anthologies, and sequels, you will surely find several new reads to add to your TBR and we apologies in advance for adding to it!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our Must-Have 2022 Queer Releases.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you’re looking forward to!

JANUARY

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
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A bighearted novel about falling in love, making a mess, and learning to let go, When You Get the Chance is the next effervescent novel from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club pick You Have a Match.

Hopepunk by Preston Norton
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A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.

The Red Palace by June Hur
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June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

Into The Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald
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Fans of Holly Black and Kendare Blake will obsess over the conclusion to this deliciously dark YA fantasy duology!

Serendipity, edited by Marissa Meyer
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From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous. Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen.

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
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Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo is a spectacularly genre-bending retelling of Romeo & Juliet asking the big questions about true love, fate, and time travel

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
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Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
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This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
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Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow
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To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Medusa by Jessie Burton
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A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
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A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

FEBRUARY

And We Rise by Erica Martin
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A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
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Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
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Extasia by Claire Legrand
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From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
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The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
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In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
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In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
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A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
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A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone. 

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
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For fans of Sandhya Menon and Adam Silvera, a prom-night romantic-comedy romp about a Sikh teen’s search for love and identity

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
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The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
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Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

MARCH

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
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A big-hearted, joyful romance and a love letter to all things geek, Remi K. England’s The One True Me and You is a *witness me* celebration of standing up for, and being, yourself.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
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This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
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From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
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Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
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A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Message Not Found by Dante Medema
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An emotionally complex portrayal of secrets, loss, and grief from Dante Medema, Indies Introduce author of the Indie Next Pick title The Truth Project. 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
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From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with an art-based magic system, romance, and murder…

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
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For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
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Blockbuster author Melissa de la Cruz’s YA retelling of Cinderella, set in 17th Century Versailles.

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
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Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
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A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory – and each other’s hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

APRIL

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
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What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
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The Fountains of Silence meets Spinning Silver in this rollicking tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
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They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
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She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only her company judging her—it’s the entire world. If K-Pop Confidential was about finding your voice, K-pop Revolution is about finding the courage to stand by your beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence you.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham
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Wilder Girls meets The Craft in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: what price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
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Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

Very Bad People by Kit Frick
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In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
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A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
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Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
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When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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Black Mirror meets Marie Lu’s Warcross in Nami’s continuing adventures as she fights to free her friends in this high-stakes sequel to The Infinity Courts by award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
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Amelia Kahaney’s All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go

MAY

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical romance in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
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An ancient city plagued by dragons. A flamenco dancer determined to save her ancestral home. A dragon hunter refusing to teach her his ways. They don’t want each other, but they need each other, and without him her world will burn.

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
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Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
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New from the author of Counting Down with You comes a sparkling YA romance about an aspiring screenwriter who falls for the indie film star who goes undercover at her school.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
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Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and Riverdale can’t miss this page-turning who-done-it that’s sure to be the next must read Young Adult thriller!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
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In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
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From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
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Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
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Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
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What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

All Signs Point to Yes, edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
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A YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
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Half-fae Arlo becomes entangled in the courtly intrigue at the Seelie Summer palace as danger for ironborns mounts in this gripping sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.

JUNE

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
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Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
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This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
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Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
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In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
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A sweeping debut novel about first love, complicated family dynamics, and the pernicious legacy of racism. Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Jandy Nelson, and Emily X.R. Pan, with crossover appeal for readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
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Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine
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The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart —from C.J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series and the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
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The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
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Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
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For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
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Game of Strength and Storm is a YA gender-bent Hercules retelling. Teenagers of Olympia Gen and Castor race to be the first to complete six nearly impossible challenges to obtain their greatest desire. Only one will win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
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I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

What 2022 YA book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 72 Upcoming YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.