Welcome everyone to another 'Meet an Author' interview. I would love to introduce you to author, Janette Grant and her book, Sameerah's Hijab and The First Day of School. Janette is also a blogger and writer for examiner.com.
Please tell us a little bit about
yourself?
My name is
Janette Grant and I am a revert to Islam. I converted to Islam in April of 1998
after having been a practicing born-again Christian.
What was your favorite children’s
book growing up?
Tiki Tiki
Tembo by Arlene Mosel. I think what I really loved most was the little song of
Tiki Tiki Tembo’s full name from the book. As I got older I enjoyed reading
Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume books.
Were you encouraged to write or was
it something that came natural?
It was
something that came naturally to me. I have always been very shy and find it
easier to express myself through my writing.
What inspired you to write your book
"Sameerah's Hijab and The First Day of School"?
My son was
the inspiration behind Sameerah’s Hijab and the First Day of School and I had
originally submitted the story to the publisher as a story about a little boy
and wearing his kufi for the first day of school. When my son started school in
kindergarten, we had to enroll him in a public school and he would come home
and tell me how his classmates would ask him questions about his kufi and that
some of his friends asked if I would make kufis for them. It was only after
having discussions with the publisher that he suggested that the story may
reach more readers if we changed the story to tell about a girl and her hijab on
the first day of school.
Why do you feel this topic is
important for any girl to read?
I feel
this topic is important for the sake understanding one another and for exposing
the shared values that many of us have in society. I also think that it is
important for providing an accurate representation of Muslims and Islam for
children and people living in the West who may not know anything about Islam
and its practices.
What was the most difficult part of
writing your story?
The most
difficult part for me was keeping it short enough for a child to read but
filled with enough information that would inform and entertain at the same
time. It was most challenging to maintain the balance between sharing accurate
knowledge and entertaining the reader within the page restrictions for content.
There always seemed to be more that I could say or write concerning the topics
addressed.
What do you hope that readers will
take away from your book?
I hope
that readers will take away an appreciation for the beauty of Islam and an open
heart concerning Muslims and Islam; and especially for hijabis. Wearing the
hijab is both an act of faith and an act of courage when living in a society
where wearing the hijab is often thought of as foreign and I hope that this
book will help others to be more compassionate towards girls and women who wear
the hijab.
What has your publishing journey for
this book like?
It has
been very exciting and rewarding. Seeing my story in print lends a certain
element authenticity to my efforts and it has been a very gratifying endeavor.
What has been your most rewarding
experience since being published?
My most
rewarding experience was receiving an email message from a sister who has a
copy of the book and who has said that she reads it to her two daughters often
and that they love it. It choked me up to read the email because that is one of
the things that I had hoped for: that little Muslims could enjoy a story that
was written essentially about them and for them and their peers.
Is there anything you wish you had
known about the publishing industry before you became a published author?
No, not at
this moment. I have been blessed to have had a very positive experience with
the publisher of my book.
How do you deal with a bad review?
I take the
criticism with meekness and try not to take it personally. Every bad review is
a learning experience one way or another.
What do you do when you’re not
writing or promoting your books?
I work from
home in the telecommunications industry and crochet in my free time. I also
love to read and try to read regularly.
Are you working on a new book?
Yes, I am
currently working on my first fiction book for adult readers. I hope to have it
published sometime in the near future.
How can your book be used in the
classroom?
My book
can be used in the classroom in a social studies class to highlight diversity
and to reveal information about Islam as well as showcasing how easy it is for
children to get along when they understand one another.
What advice would you give parents
on selecting the right books for their children to read?
I would say to research the available
books for your children first before committing to purchasing, only because
there is so much of a wide variety of books. There are lots of resources
available at local bookstores, public libraries and online to help in the
selection of good and beneficial books for young minds.
Thank you so much Janette for
joining us today and sharing your publishing journey with us. For more info about Janette and her book, check out the links below.
