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You are now entering the world of my thoughts.

This blog is my diary of works in progress. The only way a writer can improve upon her skill is to practice, practice and practice some more. Here, in this place of quiet peace, I pen to paper my thoughts and creativity. Welcome to my world.

Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

Monday, May 25, 2015

Book Giveaway: Sandcastles & Snowmen



Title: Sandcastles & Snowmen

Author: Sahar El-Nadi

Publisher: FB Publishing, June 1, 2013

Summary: A reflective journey of one woman's search and
rediscovery of her faith and spirituality.

Review:  Click on the following link to read the review for Sandcastles & Snowmen

Giveaway: One copy of Sandcastles & Snowmen



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Saturday, May 23, 2015

An Interview With Author Yasmin Mogahed


Today's interview is with the author of Reclaim Your Heart, Yasmin Mogahed.  She is a freelance writer and international speaker. She also hosts Serenity, her show on One Legacy Radio.


Greetings and Welcome. Please tell us a little bit about your book, Reclaim Your Heart.



Reclaim Your Heart is a book about freeing the heart from the chains of worldly life. It talks about healing, about coping and about redemption.



What was the motivation behind writing Reclaim Your Heart

My own life experiences and the lessons I was learning along the way about love, loss, pain and God.


I had the wonderful opportunity to hear you read "I Prayed for Peace Today," at the Seattle IlmFest 2015. What inspired you to write that poem?

A very difficult personal challenge that I had no control to alter. It made me realize how powerless I really am, and that all power belongs to God.



Can you share with us your publishing journey? What were some of your greatest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge was finding the right publisher, as I faced an incident of attempted fraud during my initial search.



Do you have any other projects/books you are working on now?

My next project is a collection of my shorter quotes insha Allah.



When you are not busy writing or teaching classes or giving lectures, what do you like to do?

Spend quality time with the people I love. I enjoy deep conversation and really great humor.



Which of the poems in your book is your favorite and why?

I think it would be "I prayed for peace today" because of how raw that sentiment was.


And for our final question:


As I mentioned before, I attended the IlmFest conference in Seattle and the theme of the conference was Balance, balance in every aspect of our lives, Currently, we are seeing a lot of turmoil in Muslim communities, whether it is in the home, at work, school or with dealing with the public at large. If you had one piece of advice for the Ummah, to heal and grow from these struggles, what would it be?

Stay close to God, nourish your heart with His constant remembrance, and love Him more than anything else.


I would like to thank Ms Mogahed for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her book and insights with us.

Read more about Yasmin Mogahed book and our review of this title on Goodreads.


Sunday, May 10, 2015

Book Review: Sandcastles & Snowmen by Sahar El-Nadi


Title: Sandcastles and Snowmen


Author: Sahar El-Nadi


Publisher: FB Publishing House, June 1, 2013


Book Description:

What makes a successful woman indifferent to her faith and what draws her back to it to see the world in new way? Why would a smart woman-of-the-world choose to be a practicing Muslim who voluntarily wears a headscarf, commits to praying five times a day and fasting a full month each year? And how does that decision affect her public life and her international work?


Sandcastles and Snowmen explores faith through the story of a woman on a personal journey to search for spirituality, leading her to reconnect with Islam in a new, global context in the turbulent post 9/11 world.


Review:
Sahar El-Nadi takes the open-minded reader on a true journey to explore and learn about Islam through her own spiritual journey of rediscovery. Born into an Egyptian Muslim family and culture, Sahar El-Nadi still went through a phase where religion was not the main focus of her life. Many young people go through this phase where they have to discover who they are individually and separate from their parent/heritage/cultural influences.


What I like most about this author is her ability to reach out and connect with the reader in a most respectful and culturally sensitive way. Sahar Nadi's  approach of sharing her faith and spiritual journey is a natural conversation. Anyone from any faith can read her book and learn about Islam without feeling pressured, talked down to or admonished. She uses every available resource, recent academic research, Islamic studies, recent and historical events, and religious texts to validate her point of view without invalidating a different point of view. She challenges misconceptions and mis-perceptions about Islam giving the reader a balanced understanding of Islamic faith and practices.


I enjoyed reading about her personal, work and travel experiences as a modern day Muslim woman in her field, the road to her rediscovering Islam, and her personal desire to become a practicing Muslim. She covers a diverse range of topics including, religion, science, arts, culture, politics, current events and so much more.




About the Author:


Sahar El-Nadi is a writer, public speaker and instructor, on leadership, change, creativity, communication and cross-cultures. She is also the creator & director of award-winning initiative 'Don't Hate, Educate!' promoting diversity and tolerance. 


To purchase Sahar’s book at Amazon, Click Here.


To visit the website for Sahar’s book go to Sandandsnow.info

Member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators