PRESS RELEASE: The NYC Big Book Award for SECRETS IN THE WIND by RUMKI

SECRETS IN THE WIND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rumki Chowdhury / rumkic86@gmail.com Author Rumki Chowdhury receives national recognition through the NYC BIG BOOK AWARD®! Paterson, NJ -- The NYC Big Book Award recognized Secrets in the Wind by Rumki Chowdhury in the category of Multicultural Fiction as a distinguished favorite.


The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award winners and distinguished favorites are based on overall excellence. Secrets in the Wind by Rumki Chowdhury Asha, a teenager from America, travels to Bangladesh with her parents to learn more about her Bengali culture. She is excited to meet her cousin, Kushi, and hopes to form a close bond with her. However, Asha soon senses that Kushi is hiding a dark secret. After some investigation, Asha discovers that Kushi is being stalked and harassed by an older man. Kushi is terrified and doesn't know what to do. Asha vows to help her cousin, but she soon realizes that this is a dangerous situation. Child marriage and stalking are all too common in Bangladesh, and Asha and Kushi could be putting themselves in danger by trying to fight back.Will Asha and Kushi be able to escape the wrath of this monster? Or will they become another statistic in the fight against child marriage and stalking in Bangladesh? The impressive roster of international and domestic entries resulted in a record year for book award winners in major categories. The competition draws a diverse and high quality author and publisher. The NYC Big Book Award boasts a worldwide entry pool from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. This year, cities such as Ann Arbor, Denver, Edinburgh, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Miami Beach, New Delhi, New York, Ottawa, Princeton, San Francisco, San Juan, Singapore, and Winnipeg were represented. Winners were recognized from Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, New Zealand and the United States. Journalists, well established authors, small and large presses, and first time independent authors participated in remarkable numbers. Awardees hailed from Blackstone Publishing, Berrett-Koehler, Beyond Words, Casemate, Cinnabar Moth Publishing, Four Way Books, Fantagraphics, Greenleaf Book Group Press, Ideapress, Inner Traditions, Kogan Page, Ooligan Press, Riverhead Books, Rutgers University Press, She Writes Press, Story Monsters Press, Teacher Created Materials, The Wild Rose Press and the White House Historical Association. “Our team is honored to highlight the excellence and achievements of a diverse array of authors and publishers,” said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak. “Their work represents a commitment to excellence. It is our mission and privilege to continue to showcase their work in an international forum.”


To view the list of winners, visit https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2023winners and distinguished favorites: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2023distinguishedfavorites YouTube Channel http://youtube.com/c/IndependentPressAwardSpringNYCBigBookAwardFall Author Interviews: www.TheGabTalks.com Join us for Spring 2024, https://www.independentpressaward.com/ * Follow us on Twitter @GabbyBookAwards See more about Secrets in the Wind at www.rumki.com, or https://www.djarabikitabs.com/bookstore

PRESS RELEASE: TEACHING AND LEARNING FROM AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Bismillah!

DALLAS, TX — March 11th, 2023. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released its second homeschooling resource titled Teaching and Learning from an Islamic Perspective by Authors Jameela Ho, Aishah Ho, Maneera Khan, Mariam Seddiq, Taherah Moslih.

Summary: All knowledge is from Allah ﷻ. When we study, the knowledge of Allah ﷻ and His creations should go together. It shouldn’t be separated like it is nowadays. When children learn science, they should be encouraged to marvel at the Creator. Math is a set of patterns. Who is it that created these patterns? Allah ﷻ!

The purpose of this book is to link our Creator to the subjects taught in school. It encourages teachers and parents to find ways to teach about Allah ﷻ and Islam into school subjects, turning it into comprehensive lessons. Each chapter has examples of lessons that you can use with your children.

A Chat with the some of the authors revealed their intentions. Please see below.

More information on the authors is available next.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

Chapter 1&5: Jameela Ho holds a Master of Education at Macquarie University, Sydney and a Master of Research from Western Sydney University. She is currently studying and researching factors that affect children’s academic achievement. She blogs on the subject of both education and parenting, each on two separate blogs. ILMA Education (www.ilmaeducation.com) is where she motivates kids to excel at studying and learning. Her Muslim Parenting blog (www.jameelaho.com) is where she helps parents to raise kids with good morals, manners and behaviour.

Chapter 2: Aishah Ho is a mathematics teacher who holds a Master of Education at Macquarie University, Sydney. She was also the head of the Mathematics department at AlZahra College, an International Baccalaureate school. She has twenty years of teaching experience. Apart from being a high school mathematics teacher, she had also worked as a primary teacher teaching fourth grade to sixth grade. She had worked in public high schools as well as Muslim schools, teaching the state mathematics curriculum as well as the International Baccalaureate mathematics curriculum. Currently, she is working on the wonders of Allah's creations and its links to mathematics.

Chapter 3: Meenara Khan is a former math and science teacher from Chicago with 6 years of teaching experience in the United States and Pakistan. Raised in the USA, Meenara’s experiences inspired her to create educational content that highlights Muslim/Islamic life and culture for classroom teaching. As a teacher, she believes hands-on, interactive learning for all ages is the key to engagement and happy classrooms.  In 2020, she received her Masters in Biology for Science Educators from Clemson University, SC. Recently, she became a Cambridge Certified teacher with honors distinction. Meenara continues to provide professional teacher training in Pakistan and makes amazing Muslim/Islamic themed resources! Currently, she runs her online teacher business at The Hijabi Teacher.

Chapter 4: Mariam Seddiq is a history enthusiast who studied at the University of Sydney, Australia, specialising in Islamic civilisation and history. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in psychology from Monash University, Melbourne. She appreciates how interwoven the subjects of history and psychology are in deepening our understanding of people and society. For the past thirteen years, she has been busy teaching history to secondary school students and continues to pursue her research and writing through her website (www.medrese.be).

Chapter 5: Taherah Moslih studied at the University of Melbourne, majoring in neuroscience. Alongside learning about how the brain grows and develops she completed a certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care.  She has been tutoring for 6 years, worked in childcare and is currently a Quran and Islamic Studies teacher at the PGCC Maktab. EasyTeaching (@easyteaching.melb) is where she teaches educators and parents about children’s unique brains, learning differences and psychologically proven learning strategies.

Teaching and Learning from an Islamic Perspective is available in paperback and eBook on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE: SECRETS IN THE WIND

Bismillah!

A POIGNANT COMING OF AGE ORIGINAL STORY!

DALLAS, TX — February 15th, 2023. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released the young adult thriller novel titled Secrets in the Wind written by Rumki Chowdhury.

Summary: Asha is a teenager hoping to get to know her Bengali culture on a deeper level by taking a vacation with her parents from America to Bangladesh. There, she meets her cousin, Kushi, with whom she hopes to form an immediate sisterly bond. However, her hopes are crushed when she senses Kushi is hiding a deep and dark secret. She eventually discovers that her cousin is being stalked and tormented by an older male. After Kushi opens up to Asha about the details, Asha wonders if she can help her cousin. Soon, she realizes that Kushi is just one of many young girls who fall victim to stalkers and child marriage in Bangladesh every year. Will Asha and Kushi be able to escape the wrath of one such monster?

Review

Returning to Bangladesh after many years since her last visit, it’s a pleasure to follow along as Asha catches up with her family, and takes in the delightful surroundings in Secrets in the Wind. Along the journey, Chowdhury delicately reveals a disturbing and too-common social problem that Asha’s relatives have not escaped. Asha’s youthful and uncontrived approach to the situation made for a compelling read. It’s not a fairytale ending, but an honest-feeling one. I hope to follow Asha along on more life explorations or at least enjoy more of Chowdhury’s tales…The first story I have read by a Bangladeshi Author; an Honor.”— Brooke Benoit

The author also shared some of her motivations for writing a novel on the grey areas of Bangladesh. Check them out below.

1.    Why did you decide to author this particular story? 

I remember hearing about real life stalker victim stories in Bangladesh.

When I began researching deeper into the topic, I realized that it was actually a common struggle among young girls in Bangladesh. Moreover, due to societal pressures of Bengali norms, thereby the lack of support most victims receive from their own family members, these girls often choose to keep silent or are encouraged to keep quiet about their tormentors. 

There are many different reasons that trigger the girls to feel ashamed, guilty and consequently, alone in their battles. A lot of those reasons are highlighted in my novel, "Secrets in the Wind." I recently travelled back to Bangladesh and spoke to one such victim. I told her about my novel, and it touched my heart when she said that I understood her situation although I knew that deep down, I never truly could understand her circumstances. She is a survivor, a champion, but in that gain, she had also lost some things. What I wanted to do was show that yes, Bangladesh is a beautiful country with beautiful souls, but like any country, there are those dark alleyways that we need to shed light on. 

I can only pray that my own daughters feel that they can turn to me in their time of need and guidance instead of choosing to remain silent for fear of disappointing me.

2. What else do you want the reader or the prospective buyer to know?

I am hoping that "Secrets in the Wind" is one of those stories that propels the reader to ask the tough, deep questions and thus, empathize with the characters. When I read a thought-provoking book, I end up closing it at the end and releasing a long sigh as if my eyelids had just been pulled open. And I hold the book in my hands, looking at it longingly for a bit before putting it down. I want my readers to be able to do that when they have read all the way through to the end of "Secrets in the Wind." 

“Every country has hidden gems, but it also has those hidden dark alleyways desperate for light. You can shed that light through the power of written and spoken words.”— Rumki Chowdhury

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rumki Chowdhury was born in Bangladesh and grew up in the USA. She has also lived in the UK and Sweden. With an MA in English Literature from The Queen Mary University of London and a BA in English Writing from The William Paterson University of New Jersey, her literary experiences expand from journalism to publishing companies like Simon and Schuster Inc., Pearson Higher Education Publishing, The Herald Newspaper and The Record Newspaper. Rumki’s previous book publications include So Complicated: A “he vs. she'' romantic comedy/women’s fiction that won Honorable Mention at The New York Book Festival, Second Place at UK’s The Wishing Shelf Award and Finalist for Humor at The Pacific Writer’s Award. She has also authored Her Feet Chime, the first and only Bangladeshi version of a Cinderella story written in English. Moreover, 100% of profits from her poetry book, Unveiled, go to helping the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh via Restless Beings. Another poem was published in Hijri, a collection of stories by various authors. Her memoir was also published in Your Story with Musart, a collection of inspirational stories by various authors. Secrets in the Wind is her first work of fiction/thriller in the YA department. In addition, Rumki provides her own editing services to authors and various media including Bengalis of New York, The World Hijab Day Organization and Hayati Magazine. She is an active blogger on writing advice via www.rumki.com and Social Media @rumkitheauthor.

Secrets in the Winds is available in paperback on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE: Islamically Inspired: Self-Development

Bismillah.

Assalamu aleikum!

A GROUNDBREAKING BOOK ON ISLAMIC AND SPIRITUAL HEALING!

DALLAS, TX — October 20th, 2022. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released the self-help book titled Islamically Inspired: Self-Development written by Ayishah Joanna Swiecinska.

Summary: Islamically Inspired: Self-Development is designed as a manual for anyone interested in the Islamic heritage of self-development but also anyone who is determined to use scientifically proven interventions in psycho-spiritual method of working with the Muslim psyche.

From the first chapter, a reader is introduced to the aetiology and ethos of healing in Islam (and beyond), as a means of opening and preparation for further chapters. In fact, each page is presenting itself as an organic progression and encourages further self-development in the spirit of submission to the will of God. Both worlds, the material and the metaphysical meet in this book and explore coherent and collaborative coexistence ways in the process of rebuilding wellness. Subjects of Gayb, Jinn, Angels, Soul and Qadr, Sabr, Rahmah, among the rest of diverse important healing markers, are thoroughly explored, so a reader can feel clarity and find a meaning in the practical use of Islamic spirituality. The unique approach of the author to the concept of selfhood opens a new door to understanding multiple intelligences as well as to the process of self-development with the process of Taffakur, Tawbah and Tazkiyah in mind.

The work in this book had been inspired by the clinical experience of Muslim therapists but also informed by the common understanding and expectations of Islamic therapeutics among ordinary Muslim clients. The premise of this book was to not only satisfy the hunger for psycho spiritual guidance in the therapy world, but mostly for God Almighty himself. Therefore, the core of this book had to be centered around the sound knowledge and guidance of the Quran and Sunnah. The reader might find himself comfortable and assured to the reliability of the material but also inspired to change his own perspectives on wellness, growth, spirituality and religiosity as it was always intended in Islam.

The Islamically Inspired Self-Development Process is not another scientifically grounded position about Islamic Psychology, but rather an organic and practical guide which uncovers the sacred laws of psycho, spiritual and somatic medicinal wisdom inscribed in revelations, medical history and current discoveries in science of healing.

Review

“As a Muslim practicing Clinical Psychologist, this book provided step-by-step guidelines on how I can use the teachings of Islam in my therapeutic practice. Along with that, it further intrigued me to study the concepts of Islamic Psychology.”— Author Aisha Idris

The author also shared her motivations for writing a self-help book on Islamic Healing. Check them out below.

“I believe that Islamic Psychology has a potential to transform people's lives in Dunya and the Akhira. We are all on a path of healing — sometimes it takes a good therapist to recreate your Wellness - Afiyah plan. After years of becoming disappointed with how mainstream therapeutics disserved spiritual and religious needs of the Muslim client, I decided to find out why. I was well versed in academic writings about Islamic Psychology and Psychotherapy. However, I still didn’t find practical answers to my questions of: how to effectively work with nowadays demands in our community. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I dedicated myself into independent research and approached imams, raqis, hakims, Muslim and Islamic psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists. I dreamed about a book which will be written from the perspective of a common Muslim client point of view. I wanted to capture a real-life experience of working therapeutically with the Islamic needs of a Muslim client and I used Muslim and Islamic practitioners experience as well as gave a voice to the Muslim client. Not only am I satisfied that this project turned out to be successful, I am also amazed with the data I gathered through the process. I had several light bulb moments as well as metaphysical experiences of being guided. This book had already transformed the way I work and brought relief to my Muslim clientele and my students of Islamic Inspired Therapeutics personal development course. I have no doubts that you will also engage in close relationship with this book and enable it to shift many paradigms for the sake of God and benefit of your self-knowing, inshallah.”— Ayishah Joanna Swiecinska.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AJ Swiecinska is currently teaching Islamic coaching and counselling qualifications. She runs an online self-developmental course called Islamically Inspired Therapeutics. Ayishah treats clients for both Psychotherapy and Naturopathy on a one-to-one basis but also organises female therapeutic retreats. She is a graduate of Msc in Psychology, Dip Counselling and Psychology, Lic Homeopath and Dip Islamic Studies. In her personal life, Ayishah has been a revert to Islam for almost 20 years and strongly values her diversity, religious, and spiritual identity as well as holistic approach in family and professional life. Visit her at www.ajstherapy.com .

Islamically Inspired is available in paperback on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE: HIJRI — A YEAR-ROUND ACCOUNT OF MUSLIM WOMEN'S LIVES

Bismillah.

Assalamu aleikum!

DALLAS, TX — September 29th, 2022. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released the anthology HIJRI: A YEAR-ROUND ACCOUNT OF MUSLIM WOMEN'S LIVES Written by Rumki Chowdhury, Papatia Feauxzar, Sana Khan, Shoohada Khanom, and Umm Afraz Muhammed.

Summary: Hijri is the cornerstone of the Islamic way of life. Without it, Muslims would not be able to observe and perform their religious rituals. Hijri is also a time marker that helps us locate significant events in time, space, history, and in our daily lives. While it may seem elusive to many, we believe it’s a flexible calendar. It easily adjusts to each user’s schedule. For instance, all Muslims will consistently celebrate and observe holy or auspicious days within three days of each other and their ibadahs are still valid.

In this anthology titled HIJRI, acclaimed Muslim authors come together to tell their stories centered and surrounding the Islamic calendar. In their poignant accounts and tales, they share their hopes, their losses and most importantly their wins because the believer is always grateful for every situation.

Above all, HIJRI shows how Muslimah writers have mindfully reclaimed their rightful time frame for the only One that truly matters.

Some of the authors shared their reasons for writing their pieces. Check them out below.

“I wrote a poem focusing on Hajj beginning with the first time I did hajj with my parents and my brother, reminding myself of a cherished memory. I also wrote it for you, the reader, as motivation and a reminder of sorts. All journeys are meant to be taken together, whether physically or spiritually; I hope in reading my work that you are able to take that journey with me. May Allah make it easy for you, Ameen.”— Rumki Chowdhury

"Sister Papatia contacted me at the beginning of the year if I would like to be part of the Hijri Anthology and I was so thrilled. There was only one issue, only one topic remains to be covered: the month of Muharram and Ashura. I knew it was heavy and I committed myself to writing about it. It had led me to research more, both outside and inside of me. What does it mean for me as a born Muslim, a child, an adult Indian Muslim living in Belgium and married to an Algerian man? How does everything intersect and amalgamate in my life? The concoction is this essay. I definitely feel so much closer to Imam Hussein عليه السلام and the events of Karbala after writing this essay.”— Sana Khan

When I started practicing Islam, I found out that some of my family’s cultural practices didn't align with it. Most were easy to drop. Others, not so much. Women coming out for Eid salah is one of those things. My story, although fictional, touches on the challenge one may find themselves in, trying to put religion first.”— Shoohada Khanom

“We all have memories that are close to our heart in relation to our religion and belief. When these memories and reflection pieces are put together in an anthology format that denotes a specific event or month of the Islamic calendar, that brings a whole new level of connection with the Hijri calendar. The Hijri Anthology is a unique concept that I am happy to have taken part in. May Allah ﷻ bless all those involved in it and forgive us for our shortcomings.”— Umm Afraz Muhammed

"I live the Hijri calendar daily and by contributing to the not so popular months, I pray that we are able to revive this sunnah and our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at the same time.”— Papatia Feauxzar

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

RUMKI CHOWDHURY

 Rumki’s second book “So Complicated” is a romcom that won The 2017 New York Book Festival Honorable Mention, the 2016 Red Ribbon for being an enjoyable read in UK´s The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and runner-up for humor in The 2015 Pacific Writer’s Awards. Her first book, “Her Feet Chime” is the first and only Bangladeshi YA version of a Cinderella story, written in English. Her third book is an anthology of poems which revolve around the misconceptions of the hijab/headscarf. it is poetry with a purpose, rather than profit as all proceeds go to a charity called, Restless Beings, http://www.restlessbeings.org/about

Rumki has a Masters in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelors in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey. She is now a licensed English teacher in Stockholm, Sweden.

Visit her at www.rumki.com . 

PAPATIA FEAUXZAR 

Papatia is the Founder of Djarabi Kitabs Publishing and Fofky’s Bookclub. An American author, barista, and publisher of African descent, she lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, DFW Child and Voyage Dallas.

She blogs at:

- www.papatia.wordpress.com 

- www.aducktrinormom.wordpress.com  

SANA KHAN

 Sana is a Motivational Speaker, Writer, Host and a Confidence and Breakthrough Coach. With an Engineering background and a Masters in International Business, she has more than 15 years of experience working in Corporates. Loves to inspire and empower people through her writing, videos and coaching. She has been writing for more than 5 years on her blog: fromadaydreamersdiary.wordpress.com. She likes to write spiritual poetry as well. She is currently working on her first fantasy fiction YA novel which she hopes to finish by December 2021. Dreamcatcher Framework is her Debut non-Fiction work. Sana lives in Belgium with her husband and their son.

For more information about Sana and her work, visit www.talkwithsana.com

 

SHOOHADA KHANOM 

Shoohada Khanom is a Children’s author, writer and home educator. She has published several Muslim faith picture books and a couple of journals. She has written for Amaliah and Hayati magazines, and has a short story and poem published in an anthology. Shoohada was born and raised in London, UK, and lives a busy life, splitting her days between home-educating a few of her children and other responsibilities. When she’s not writing, she likes to spend time with her family, read and sip tea. Shoohada believes representation is important, and by sharing her lived experiences and the layers of her British, Bangladeshi and Muslim identity, she can inspire empathy and connection amongst people.

In her rare free moments, she likes to read, write and sip tea. Connect with her on www.shoohadakhanom.com  

UMM AFRAZ MUHAMMED

 Umm Afraz Muhammed is an Indian settled in the Emirates with her husband and three children. She is a Psychology-graduate, an Islamic Studies post-graduate, and a Certified Life Coach following the principles of Islam and the International Coaching Federation. She has authored her debut fiction, Here With You, and her debut children’s picture book, Zaynab bint Jahsh: The One with the Longest Hand.

She blogs at https://ummafraz.wordpress.com and is available in Instagram and Facebook at:

- @redefinedmuslimahcoaching.  

She can also be contacted at:

- ummafraz@gmail.com or

- redefinedmuslimahcoaching@gmail.com

HIJRI is available in paperback on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

 

PRESS RELEASE: NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN: MUSLIM WOMEN WRITERS ON LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY MUSLIMAH AUTHORS

DALLAS, TX — August 27th, 2022. DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released an anthology Not to be forgotten: Muslim women writers on lived experiences of the covid-19 pandemic edited by Muti’ah Badruddeen and authored by Muslim Women.

About the anthology: Original essays, short stories or poetry, rooted in lived experiences of Muslim Women; stories about people's lives and relationships affected by the pandemic, and its resultant lockdown and travel ban.

The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly one of the most significant historical events of our lifetime and, if mankind survives long enough, the events of our times will be studied and mined for history. The lived experiences of those of us living today would form the bases of those explorations.

Every human being living through this event has a story to tell, of their experiences and how this event has shaped their individual lives. As Muslims, the impact on our faith, and vice versa, of living through these times cannot be trivialized. As Muslim women, we consider it important that our stories—experiences, struggles and triumphs—centering this pandemic be documented for prosperity.

Contains works of Warda Abbas. Leila Aboulela. Nadirah Ashim. Muti'ah Badruddeen. Reem Faruqi. Papatia Feauxzar. Basheerah Jones. Hameedah Kehinde. Shoohada Khanom. E A M Lymer. Afshan Malik. Sarah Musa. Aisha Oredola. Aminah Oke. Gina Petonito. Maryam A. Sullivan (Umm Juwayriyah). Tayyaba Syed. Tumkeen.

1.    Why did Muslim Women decide to author and/or compile an anthology on Covid-19 ?  

“I wanted us to write stories about the impact of COVID-19 on Muslim women—a memoir of sorts— a book of history for us, Muslim women. Our stories are often left untold.“ — Basheerah Jones, Author

2. What else do you want do we want the readers or the prospective buyers to know?

“As Muslim women, it is important that our stories - experiences, struggles and triumphs - centering this pandemic be documented for posterity. As we are all too aware, as readers, writers and creatives, if we do not tell our own story, no one will! Especially as Muslims, the impact on our faith, and vice-versa, of living through these times cannot be trivialized.”— Muti’ah Badruddeen, Author & Creative Editor

I hope that every Muslim woman who reads NTBF finds herself on the pages of this anthology. There was so much loss during the pandemic, but there were a lot of wins and moments of self–discovery, too. I pray that years from now, when COVID-19 is a distant memory. NTBF will serve as a reminder of what we went through and how Muslim women pulled through.”— Hameedah Kehinde, Author & Copy-Editor

What do readers have to say about NTBF?

“Relatable”

“Needed”

“Therapeutic”

“Well-written”

Join us on ZOOM and social media for the official book launch!

Join the Zoom Meeting. Link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83153063974?pwd=cCs1RWMwZlFLL3hvTmMyZURLeUpIQT09

Meeting ID: 831 5306 3974

Passcode: 084648

About the Authors :

●                Wardah Abbas

Wardah is a lawyer, writer and storyteller from Nigeria. She is the founding Editor of The Muslim Women Times and writes about gender, culture, equality and Islam ( www.themuslimwomentimes.com ) as well as a social justice activist who is especially passionate about the rights of Muslim women. She runs ‘The Mango Wordcraft,’” a storytelling company for individuals and businesses. You can see more of her work on Medium @Wardahabbas.

 ●                Leila Aboulela

Leila was the first winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. Her latest books include the novel Bird Summons and the short story collection Elsewhere, Home, winner of the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year. Leila’s work has received critical recognition and a high profile for its distinctive exploration of migration and Islamic spirituality. Her previous novels are The Kindness of Enemies, The Translator, a New York Times 100 Notable Books of the year, Minaret and Lyrics Alley. Leila was named Fiction Winner of the Scottish Book Awards and shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. Her work has been translated into fifteen languages and she was long-listed three times for the Orange Prize. Her plays The Insider, The Mystic Life and others were broadcast on BBC Radio and her work included in publications such as The Guardian, The Washington Post, Granta and Harper’s Magazine. Leila is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Honorary President of the SSSUK-the Society for the Study of the Sudans. She was recently named Patron of Women’s Education Partnership, a charity funding educational projects in Sudan and South Sudan.

 ●                Nadirah Ashim

Nadirah is a Nigerian medical student and speculative fiction writer. She is currently working on her debut novel. When she’s not studying or writing, Nadirah can be found scrolling through social media or consuming the books on an endless to-be-read shelf. You can find her on https://linktr.ee/fareedah

 ●                Muti’ah Badruddeen

Muti’ah is a Nigerian author of contemporary Islamic fiction. An Obstetrician-Gynecologist and homeschooling mum, she struggles to write tales that reflect African Muslim realities during the early-morning hours. Her international debut novel, Rekiya & Z, is the 2021 Daybreak Press Book Award winner for Islamic Fiction, among others. She’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - all @deenprogress - and can be contacted via www.deenprogress.com Muti’ah blogs sporadically at www.deenprogress.wordpess.com

 ●                Reem Faruqi

Reem is the award-winning children’s book author of Lailah’s Lunchbox, a book based on her own experiences as a young Muslim girl immigrating to the United States, Amira’s Picture Day, I Can Help, and a middle-grade debut novel in verse, Unsettled. After surviving Atlanta traffic for school drop- off, Reem spends her days trying to write, instead getting distracted easily by her camera and the buttery sunlight. Reem Faruqi lives in Atlanta with her husband and three daughters. You can find her at www.ReemFaruqi.com or on Instagram or Twitter.

 ●                Papatia Feauxzar

Papatia is the Founder of Djarabi Kitabs Publishing and Fofky’s Bookclub. An American author, barista, and publisher of African descent, she lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News, DFW Child and Voyage Dallas. She blogs at www.papatia.wordpress.com  and    www.aducktrinormom.wordpress.com .

 ●                Basheerah Jones

Basheerah is the pen name for a social justice lawyer who enjoys journaling and loves to travel even though she hasn’t done much of it. An aspiring writer, this anthology was her brain child and she hopes to write more in the future. A Muslimah who finds herself constantly struggling to please Her Rabb and parent her mini-Muslims, Basheerah wants to travel the world to see the beauty of Allah’s creation and homeschool her mini-Muslims someday.

 ●                Hameedah Kehinde

Hameedah is a mum (of three kids), an English teacher, and Head of School in Abuja, Nigeria. She loves to read, hang out with family and close friends, sleep, eat, try new foods. and generally have a good time. Hameedah hopes to be a host for a Muslim radio show or a creator of cool, useful products for women and children. Or, in a perfect world, both. She enjoys meeting people.

●                Shoohada Khanom

Shoohada is a British-Bangladeshi children’s author and writer who lives a busy life, home educating her children amidst other motherly responsibilities. In her rare free moments, she likes to read, write and sip tea. Connect with her on www.shoohadakhanom.com

●                E A M Lymer

E.A.M. Lymer is a Home Educator, Theatre of the Oppressed Practitioner, and Student of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). She has written picture books for young children and is now drafting young adult fiction. She is on Instagram @EAMLymer .

●                Afshan Malik

Afshan, a Chicago native turned southern belle, works as the Director of Development at Rabata. She is the author of the 2019 young adult novel Pieces and enjoys browsing bookshops, rolling rotis, and soaking up the Texas sun with her husband and five children. Afshan can be found on FB/IG @afshanmalikwrites, Twitter @afshan1009 and on her website www.afshanmalik.com

●                Sarah Musa

Sarah is a children's book author of Ahmed and the Very Stuck Teapot. She hopes to write fiction for adult Muslims someday— books that truly represent Islam. She is a mother of six, from teenagers to toddlers. She loves farming and country life. She is on Instagram as @sarahmusawrites.

●                Aisha Oredola

Aisha is a Nigerian Public Health Practitioner and Writer. Her work has been published in the African Writers Review, Bad Form Review x Literandra Issue 5: African History, Blue Minaret Literary Journal, and elsewhere. Find her on www.twitter.com/aish_dols  and www.instagram.com/@aish.dols.

●                Amina Oke

Amina is a Nigerian copywriter and creative non-fiction writer who helps online brands increase their revenue with email, and enjoys sharing her thoughts on spiritual development for Muslims. She can be found on Instagram @amina.oke.

●                Gina Petonito

Gina is a writing mentor and coach; founding member of Writing Your Way, a full-service writing mentoring business. She assists with resumes, cover letters, college essays, fiction, non-fiction and classroom papers and projects. As the founding member of Academic Women Reclaim Your Power, she helps academic women weather current job market precarity by coaching them to start their own side businesses to achieve financial security. Dr. Petonito is currently editing her historical fiction novel Coming Home, which explores the human impact of gentrification and redevelopment.

  ●                Maryam A. Sullivan (Umm Juwayriyah)

Umm Juwayriyah is an African-American writer and author of the As Sabr Publications Best Sellers: The Size of a Mustard Seed, Hind's Hands, The Princess, and The Good Deed, Yaseen's Big Dream. She is the #MuslimGirlsReader Founder, New England Muslim Sisters Association Editor- in-Chief and the 2018 Highlights Foundation Fellow.

●                Tayyaba Syed

Tayyaba is the multiple award-winning children's author of The Blessed Bananas and Hafsa’s Kisses. She has written for over 20 titles including Encyclopedia Britannica and the Jannah Jewels chapter-book series. A journalist who has had bylines in publications such as NPR, Chicago Parent and Islamic Horizons, she is an active volunteer for Rabata, teaches writing to communities, leads a local women’s halaqa, and has worked as the Creative Developer for Noor Kids educational books. As a public speaker, she has conducted 100+ literary and faith-based presentations from all over North America to Qatar and Turkey. Tayyaba holds a Teacher Certification through the Ribaat Academic Institute and is an elected member of her local public school district’s Board of Education. She lives with her husband and three children in Illinois.

●                Tumkeen

Tumkeen is an award-winning and bestselling Canadian author, writer, and poet who lives in Detroit, USA with her husband and six children. After the international success of her first book Breathe: Reflections & Poetry from the 2020 Lockdown, Tumkeen is currently working on a memoir.

NTBF’s books—eBook and paperback— are available on Amazon, DKP’s Bookstore, and Fofky's Online Book Café. You can also find the book on Goodreads.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

PRESS RELEASE : THE CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANT BY PAPATIA FEAUXZAR

I seek refuge in Allah from the Devil. In the name of Allah. The Beneficial, The Merciful.

Assalamu aleikum waramatulahi wabarakatuhu!

the certified accountant with fofkys logo.png

A UNIQUE MUSLIM ACCOUNTING THRILLER

DALLAS, TX — Muharram 1st, 1442 AH (August 19th, 2020.) DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released The Certified Accountant by Ivorian American Author Papatia Feauxzar.

The Certified Accountant is :

“ An Intriguing Read”

“No Nonsensical”

“Funny”

“Political”

About the Book Titled “The Certified Accountant”

Summary : Issata Waree once enjoyed the life of an ethical accountant. When her genius mentor Gahussou Ledger snaps and quits corporate accounting, she finds herself reassessing her own careful and lackluster life choices. Soon enough, she becomes a rogue certified public accountant and drowns blissfully in that thrilling and short-lived happiness.
When the underworld crime boss business Issata is involved in lands on the the FBI's radar, she is compelled to provide a client list in order to save her neck.
The resulting shock wave is the rapid number of foes she amasses. So, Issata does what she knows best; going on a rampage to protect herself and seek revenge for the loved ones who lost their lives due to her actions.
The Certified Accountant is a well-rounded thriller that combines the unseen world, different faiths, redemption, politics, fantasy, ethics and most of all testifies to the the fact that of all mankind sins.

The Certified Accountant is available on Djarabi Kitabs Publishing's e-Store , Amazon in e-book and paperback formats, and Fofky's Online Book Cafe.

You can find it on Goodreads.


About the Author: Papatia Feauxzar is an American author, barista, and publisher of West African descent living in Dallas, Texas with her son and husband. She holds a master's degree in Accounting with a concentration in Personal Finance. After working as a senior accountant for a corporate firm for almost five years, Feauxzar decided to pursue Accounting from home while homeschooling her son. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine. Feauxzar has been featured in "DFW Child" and "Voyage Dallas." Also a poet, you can read three of her pieces in "WOKE & LOUD: A Faith-Based Medley of Muslim Poetry & Spoken Word" published by Inked Resistance. Visit her websites at A Ducktrinor Mom or www.fofkys.com.

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com

book-cover-accountant-2.jpg





PRESS RELEASE : THE LIBRARY CLERK'S E-SHOP BY PAPATIA FEAUXZAR

I seek refuge in Allah from the Devil. In the name of Allah. The Beneficial, The Merciful.

Assalamu aleikum waramatulahi wabarakatuhu!

press release banner tcles all languages.png

MUSLIM FICTION * FICCIÓN MUSULMANA * FICTION MUSULMANE

A BOOK LOVER’S MUST-HAVE!

DALLAS, TX — Shawwal 10th, 1441 (June 1st, 2020.)  DJARABI KITABS PUBLISHING has officially released The Library Clerk’s e-Shop by Ivorian American Author Papatia Feauxzar. The new release is also available in French and Spanish versions under the titles L'e-Boutique de l'Assistante Librarie and La Tienda Electrónica del Asistente de Biblioteca respectively.

About the Book Titled The Library Clerk’s e-Shop

Summary : Qari D. Fofana–– known as "Kerry" by her American friends, is a twenty-three-year-old Ivorian girl living in the United States. Dallas, to be precise. As a bit of a social introvert, Qari has always wanted to open an online book-coffee-tea shop. She has visions of living “the glamorous life,” which consists of reading books and working in her pajamas all week long. And for a short while, it seems like Qari’s dream of opening up that shop––as farfetched as it feels at times, will come true––until her work visa and I-20 expire. Afraid of being deported and disappointing her family back home, Qari comes up with a scheme to marry her American Muslim hot, handsome landlord––a kind man who has made his feelings for Qari known to her. However, soon enough, this too backfires.
Faced with deportation, Qari packs her meager belongings and returns home to Ivory Coast, determined to make at least some of her ambitions materialize. Still, however, she soon realizes that a huge piece of her broken heart and deferred dreams remain back in the United States.
The Library Clerk’s e-Shop is a story about friendship, lost and found love, the hardships of immigration, the love of books and culture, and of course, self-determination. Most of all, it is a tale about following your dreams, no matter where in the world they take you.

“This novel was definitely rich in culture and that itself was super interesting to me. I enjoyed learning about the different foods, customs, phrases, and terms. Overall, this was a very good book and one worth checking out.” — HEA Bookshelf

“One of the many pluses of this book for me was learning more about the African culture and appreciating the richness of it. I loved reading about the customs and the cuisine and literally salivated over some of the delicious dishes mentioned. Readers who appreciate diverse cultures will love The Librarian Clerk’s E-Shop and will emerge from this reading experience all the better for it.” — Author Farah Zaman

The Library Clerk’s e-Shop is available in the three languages mentioned on Djarabi Kitabs Publishing's e-Store , Amazon in e-book and paperback formats, and Fofky's Online Book Cafe.

Also find them on Goodreads here.

For more information on the book merchandise composed of bookmarks, pins, and mugs, please click here.

new release tcles with translation mockups shawwal 5 1441.png

About the author: Papatia Feauxzar is an American author, barista, and publisher of West African descent living in Dallas, Texas with her son and husband. She holds a master's degree in Accounting with a concentration in Personal Finance. After working as a senior accountant for a corporate firm for almost five years, Feauxzar decided to pursue Accounting from home while homeschooling her son. She is the Online Editor at Hayati Magazine. Feauxzar has been featured in "DFW Child" and "Voyage Dallas." Also a poet, you can read three of her pieces in "WOKE & LOUD: A Faith-Based Medley of Muslim Poetry & Spoken Word" published by Inked Resistance. Visit her websites at A Ducktrinor Mom or www.fofkys.com.

mockup 6.png

CONTACTS

Djarabi Kitabs Publishing

PO BOX 703733

Dallas, TX 75370

USA

Email: editor@djarabikitabs.com



Coming Next Year to Djarabi Kitabs Publishing : The Library Clerk’s e-Shop!

th elibrary clerk eShop 10 7 2019.png

A Book Lover’s Must-Have

How is it like for a Black immigrant Muslim woman to navigate life in the US while trying to stay legal? In The Library Clerk's e-Shop, you get an idea! Pre-order it on Amazon here.

Summary : Qari D. Fofana–– known as "Kerry" by her American friends, is a twenty-three-year-old Ivorian girl living in the United States. Dallas, to be precise. As a bit of a social introvert, Qari has always wanted to open an online book-coffee-tea shop. She has visions of living “the glamorous life,” which consists of reading books and working in her pajamas all week long. And for a short while, it seems like Qari’s dream of opening up that shop––as farfetched as it feels at times, will come true––until her work visa and I-20 expire. Afraid of being deported and disappointing her family back home, Qari comes up with a scheme to marry her American Muslim hot, handsome landlord––a kind man who has made his feelings for Qari known to her. However, soon enough, this too backfires.


Faced with deportation, Qari packs her meager belongings and returns home to Ivory Coast, determined to make at least some of her ambitions materialize. Still, however, she soon realizes that a huge piece of her broken heart and deferred dreams remain back in the United States.

The Library Clerk’s e-Shop is a story about friendship, lost and found love, the hardships of immigration, the love of books and culture, and of course, self-determination. Most of all, it is a tale about following your dreams, no matter where in the world they take you.

The Library Clerk’s e-Shop is set to be released in June 2020 insha’Allah. Pre-order it here, and add it to your TBR list on Goodreads here.

Papatia Feauxzar Quits Corporate America to Become a Writer and Publisher

working muslimahs 6 18 19.png

Papatia Feauxzar is an American author, barista, and publisher of West African descent living in Dallas, Texas with her son and husband. She holds a master’s degree in Accounting with a concentration in Personal Finance. After working as an accountant for a corporate firm for almost five years, Feauxzar decided to pursue Accounting from home while homeschooling her son.

When I first came across her publishing site a few years ago, the first part of the name, ‘Djarabi,’ stood out to me because I knew what it meant. It means ‘love’ in my language (Mandenka/Mandinga/Dioula/Bamana). I was quite surprised because I didn’t often come across people from my ethnic background active in the online Muslim entrepreneur world for whatever reason. 

My curiosity of her led me to follow her and find out more about her. I’m glad I did and today, it is my pleasure to interview sister Papatia Feauxzar.

 Assalaam ‘alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh Sister. Welcome to Working Muslimahs and thank you very much for being here. 

Wa aleikum salam waramatulahi wabarakatuhu my dear sister from the motherland! Masha’Allah. Allah is the best of planners. Alhamdullilah!

I am very excited to interview you today! To begin, tell us a little about yourself. 

Aww, thank you! I’m happy to be here, alhamdullilah. A little about me…I’m getting close to being 40 years old, and I’m enjoying starting having grey hair as the sunnah says it’s a sign of wisdom alhamdullilah. I’m a constant work-in-progress who likes to try her hands at anything. I find it more fulfilling when my two hands accomplish things. It makes me proud and glow inside out. Masha’Allah alhamdullilah.

You have an interesting name, which I’m sure is a pen name. What made you choose a pen name and where did you find inspiration for it? 

Oh, my pen name is interesting. I chose it because I’m an introvert; privacy and safety reasons. Anyway, there are simply too many layers to the name, and I will try to explain without confusing you, haha. I have always liked daisies. When I married into a Turkish family, they started calling me Papatya. I asked why? They said that my smile was as bright as a daisy flower. I was like, “Wow! Thank you. I actually like daisies.” So, when I decided to write, I tweaked the name a bit to Papatia.

I do respond to both spellings of the name. I also respond to Fofky; a derivative of my real last name which stuck when I was in high school. My former classmates called me this way to this day. Today, it’s the  name I use for my second business alhamdullilah. Now, the pen last name is just a combination of my maiden name and my married name. And since I speak French because of political history of my birth country, I decided to give my pen name a French punch. “Fo” Fofkys became “Feaux.” And “Zar” is just a syllable in my married name. I hope this explains it. Smiles

Now that’s what you call being creative!  You are an accountant, writer, publisher, wife, mother, blogger, and a homeschooler. Phew! What a mouth full! How do you balance all these roles and remain sane?

It’s hard! But alhamdullilah ala kulli haal. I have a planner and each minute of my day is carefully allocated to a task alhamdullilah. However, they will be days where I’m utterly burn out, and I will do nothing but relax and pray.

You are a former accountant in the corporate world, what made you decide to work from home instead and what steps did you take to make it a reality?

The birth of my son, my in-laws’ cultural lifestyle (women don’t work in this culture), my growing tiredness while multitasking all these roles you mention I do (lol), and the Islamophobic climate (I was the only Black Muslimah in the whole buiding) all played some roles in me quitting corporate America. Before I quit, I had made sure that I saved enough money and that I had a backup plan to remain an independent Muslim woman. That backup plan was my publishing house I started in 2013. I had built the platform until I was ready to quit in 2016.

There’s so much about you to talk about. So let me just ask, what inspired you to become a writer and a publisher?

Writing and authoring books have always been something I had a penchant for since my teenage years. I wrote back then. Most of my works are destroyed but Allah put the right people along the way and I seized the opportunity to make my dreams come true. On a side note, my African family comes from a cast of scholars and learners. So, I’m just following in their footsteps. My paternal grandfather owned a merdrassa and my late father was a Doctor in Psychology and Sociology alhamdullilah. He did his graduate studies in Paris and returned to teach University students in Ivory Coast.

With all your entrepreneurial roles kept in mind, what is the biggest vision/goal you hope to accomplish?

My goal is to help make Muslim works more seen. It pains me every time I read or think of the story of Bayt al Hikma. Knowledge is life. May Allah facilitate, aameen.

Ameen. What challenges did you face when you started your entrepreneur journey?

Too many subhanallah. You can always count on shaytan to throw you curveballs. While Allah tests us along the way, you learn from all of these calamities. The main challenge though was to make sure I’m never at the mercy of people I hire to work for me. I try to do everything myself or know how to do these things so I can be independent.

How do you stay focused despite all the distractions and what motivates you?

I simply make dua that Allah gets shaytan away from me. If you don’t, he will help you waste your time.

How do you maintain a balance between work and personal life? 

I set boundaries. My play time is my play time. My work time is strictly my work time.

As a Muslim woman, how does Islam impact your entrepreneurship?

Quite a lot actually. Allah is ar-Razzaq. My success is only by Him. He is an-Nasir. He is the one who sets my rizq, sends help, supporters, followers, buyers, you name it. I don’t discount His tremendous help. I am immensely grateful for all of his help and tests. You can’t become complacent or lose focus of the ultimate test with all your worldly accomplishments; this life test.

When are you most productive and how do you manage your time?

Early in the morning after tahajjud and/or fajr. I go to sleep early so I can wake up early to pray when the apartment is quiet. After that, I start studying or working online. I give myself thirty minutes or so for fajr and dhikr. Then, I start the day officially with more work, studying, homeschooling, etc.

How do you deal with ‘bad days’ and ‘negative thoughts’?

Again dua. I strive not to let negative thoughts, bad moments in a day or malice flourish in my heart or mind. Astagfirullah. What’s the purpose of doing such things? Sinning. A thing I try to stay away for my own sake in the next life.

As a Muslim woman in today’s society, do you find it challenging to achieve personal and work goals?

Not at all. If I write them down and make dua about them, I’m confident that al-Fattah will help me achieve these goals if they are beneficial for me.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned so far as an entrepreneur?

Be frugal. Don’t waste anything. Don’t make impulse purchases, look for better prices before buying anything. Reward people Allah sent to help you well. Don’t be a pushover. Let people see and know your strength. If you don’t do these, they will deliberately pick fights with you out of spite and jealousy.

What advice would you give to other Muslimah entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs?

Know that the evil eye is real and always be prepared spiritually (know the 99 names of Allah) to fight off shaytan off your affairs. Because sooner or later, it will happen. Also make dua that you don’t fall prey to jealousy. Because we’re humans, make dua that Allah removes such a thing from your heart the moment you recognize it. Do it quickly for your own sake. Aameen.

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere and anywhere. Inspiration is all around us alhamdullilah. That said, I usually find it when I unplug and rest.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It’s an honor to be on your platform. Thank you so much for the invite. Allahumma barik! May Allah make your platform a great success for the benefit of this life and the next, aameen. May He put barakat and increase your rizq in it, too. Allahumma aameen.

Ameen! And same to you my dear sister. Where can you be reached?

@djarabikpub on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

@fofkys on Facebook and Instagram. @fofky_s on Twitter.

Thank you very much for your time. Assalaam ‘alaikum.

Thank you to you as well!  Wa aleikum salam waramatulahi wabarakatuhu.

Original Source.