Contemporary Authors

• Saints and Misfits ( young-adult novel) Salaam Reads (New York, NY), 2017

• From Publisher -

  S.K. Ali is a teacher based in Toronto whose writing on Muslim culture and life has appeared in the Toronto Star. Her family of Muslim scholars is consistently listed in the The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, and her insight into Muslim culture is both personal and far-reaching. A mother of a teenage daughter herself, S.K. Ali’s debut YA novel is a beautiful and nuanced story about a young woman exploring her identity through friendship, family, and faith.
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• S. K Ali Website - https://skalibooks.com/

  Hi everyone! *waves*

  I’m still working on writing up my serious, OFFICIAL bio, but, for now, I hope a compilation of random facts about me will do?

  RANDOM FACTS:

  The first complete story I wrote was called Sweet Calvin. It featured a child visiting from Australia who goes on a murderous rampage WITH A RAKE after being bitten by a mouse. Because that’s what mice do to children from Australia. The story was a hit with my seventh grade class so, yeah, I decided to become an author at the tender, gruesome age of eleven.

  I wanted to tell stories so badly that I got my degree in Creative Writing as soon as I was released from high school.

  I was born in south India but left that lush, beautiful, idyllic place during my terrible threes. Not by my toddler-self of course. My parents and siblings insisted on accompanying me across the oceans to Canada.

  One of my favorite words in the entire world is…wait for it…”wee”. As in, that’s a wee little word to be putting all your favoriting-power into! I believe I have some Scottish blood in me.

  I call my stories a stitching-together of the threads in our lives that lead to our ah-ha moments. But, yes, on thinking about it, that’s what all stories are.

  The first language I learned in school was French.

  Here’s a picture of me with shoes too big on picture day in kindergarten.
  #awkward

• American Booksellers Association Website - http://bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-qa-sk-ali-36268

  An Indies Introduce Q&A With S.K. Ali [1]
  By Jessica Stauffer [2] on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2017
  S.K. AliS.K. Ali is the author of Saints and Misfits (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), a Summer/Fall 2017 Indies Introduce [3] debut for young adults starring Janna Yusuf, a contemporary Muslim teenager who is dealing with daily life, from exams and crushes to a blended home life and evolving friendships. When an attempted assault turns her world upside down, Janna struggles to find support and to move from a state of victimhood to empowerment.

  Ali, who comes from a family of Muslim scholars, is a teacher based in Toronto, and her writing on Muslim culture and life has appeared in the Toronto Star.

  Laura Delaney, co-owner of Rediscovered Books [4] in Boise, Idaho, was on the Indies Introduce bookseller panel that selected Ali’s book as a notable debut. Here, Ali and Delaney discuss the author’s writing process and the importance of reading Muslim voices.

  Laura Delaney: How did you create the character of Janna? Who is she modeled after? What made you want to tell this story of a young hijabi woman?

  Saints and Misfits by S.K. AliS.K. Ali: Janna was a character in the first YA manuscript I wrote, a good friend to the main character. People who read the book unanimously loved her and wanted to know more about her. So when I decided to trunk that first manuscript (after many attempts to revise it), she stayed with me and it was natural for me to explore her story. I did so through blogging in her voice. I relied on visuals to explore her world and peppered her blog with photos — these later served as settings and secondary characters. I told this story because this is the story that spoke to the many experiences I’ve seen and had and heard about from others. I wanted to tell a story about a girl who grows inwardly and decides to be seen/heard, who grows to seek justice unashamedly. I wanted to tell a story of resilience and triumph in the face of trauma.

  LD: This book deals with a variety of difficult subjects and has some scenes that are quite difficult to read. What part of this book was the hardest to write?

  SKA: The hardest parts were probably the ones that were difficult to read. The assault scene was obviously hard to write, so I decided to change it up and do it stream-of-consciousness style. When Janna confronts the monster in the café — that was hard. Before I wrote that scene I’d had a block of no writing for weeks, maybe because I knew I had to write the confrontation. And then I was in Istanbul on vacation and I’d been reading about the history of the harem at the Old Palace and the next day, I didn’t leave my hotel room because I just had to write the scene. The issue of justice denied to women throughout history in all parts of the world compelled me to move beyond my discomfort. It was really emotional for me to write that scene, and to this day, I can’t read it without crying.

  LD: The bibliography in Saints and Misfits was a lovely way to acknowledge those who supported and helped you in this writing process. Beyond that, what kind of research went into creating this novel?

  SKA: I’m a very visual person so I used photographs to guide my writing. I also used storyboards and did character doodles. I grew up <>. My family was constantly going on trips to events, conferences, camps, and festivals that took place in the U.S. and Canada, so I had a pretty good understanding of aspects of North American “Muslimness” — it was in my system. For the party scene in the end, because I have no experience with alcohol, I had to survey friends and verify things with them. Additionally, I consulted with a Hindu friend for sensitivity for the scene when Mr. Ram talks about Hindu scriptures.

  LD: Your book is called Saints and Misfits, two words that serve as titles to most chapters. Why saints and misfits?

  SKA: The word “saints” came easily because when you’re part of a faith community, there are people who stand out as being almost angelically good. They’re doing everything they’re supposed to be doing. Some of these people are the real deal and some aren’t. And if you discover someone who isn’t the real deal, it can ruin your understanding of your community and sometimes your faith. That’s where Flannery O’Connor comes in — I loved her stories as a teen because I was drawn to the creeping sense of the macabre in them. It was only on re-reading them later and reading about her life that I saw that through many of her stories she was making a statement on fake piety and self-righteousness. She was a person of faith, so it made sense for her to be disturbed by people who pretend piety for the sake of power, among other reasons. Of course, one of her most famous stories, A Good Man is Hard to Find, has a character in it called the Misfit. When I remembered that, it just made sense to use the word “misfit” because that’s what Janna feels like — a misfit in her family, with her friends, and with the guy she likes. “Saints” and “misfits” tied the theme of the book together just so.

  LD: Which writers inspire you to keep telling stories? What is one of your more memorable experiences with the power of language?

  SKA: That’s a great question because, yes, there are some writers I read just to be a reader, just to soak in a story. Like Barbara Kingsolver and Arundhati Roy (so excited for her latest!). And then there are other writers that when I read them, I want to pick up my pen or open my laptop. Ann Patchett makes me feel like writing. When I was writing Saints and Misfits, I listened to the audiobook of her collection of essays on writing and life, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, to keep me going during writing slumps. I did that more than once! One of my more memorable experiences with the power of language is from grade school, where I was very creative but felt unseen. When I started wearing hijab in sixth grade, the only girl to do so, I felt even more invisible. I effectively gave up trying out for school plays or other creative endeavors because the same students always got the parts. Then in seventh grade, the first week of school, I was called up to the teacher’s desk and asked if I had actually written the story I wrote in my writing notebook all by myself. I said yes. For two weeks after, this teacher watched me during writing periods. Finally, she called me up and pointed at one of my stories and asked me if I knew that I was a writer. I shook my head. And she affirmed it, that yes, you’re a marvelous writer. I still remember the feeling walking back to my desk. I was a writer. Having someone other than my parents confirm my creativity was powerful. I went on to try for things once more; to share the stories I’d written with classmates, write for the school newspaper, etc. The epilogue to this story is that I reconnected with this teacher after 30 years and she’s coming to the book launch for Saints and Misfits.

  LD: What book(s) do you think should be required reading for young people today?

  SKA: I think <>. Because of my background as a Muslim author and because there’s a gaping hole in Muslim narratives, I’d like to suggest #MuslimShelfSpace titles (books by Muslim authors, with overt Muslim content/characters): Alif the Unseen and the Ms. Marvel series by G. Willow Wilson; Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan; Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed; Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan; The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi; and That Thing We Call a Heart by Sheba Karim. I’m excited because there are more books slated to be published in the next few years.

• CBC - http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/jillian-tamaki-kimmy-beach-s-k-ali-1.4271806/why-s-k-ali-believes-in-the-unlimited-potential-of-girl-power-1.4271912

  Monday September 04, 2017
  Why S.K. Ali believes in the unlimited potential of girl power

  S.K. Ali is the author of the YA novel Saints and Misfits.
  S.K. Ali is the author of the YA novel Saints and Misfits. (Simon & Schuster)

  Listen 3:00
  MORE STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE
  Why Jillian Tamaki believes in the power of magical realism in a digital age
  Why S.K. Ali believes in the unlimited potential of girl power
  Brian Francis on how books on beauty have evolved over time
  The book that helped Liz Lokre in her journey of self-discovery
  Why Kimmy Beach wrote a novel about a 100 foot tall wooden puppet
  FULL EPISODE
  S.K. Ali is an exciting new voice on the YA scene. The Toronto-based author's debut novel, Saints and Misfits, is the first title to be published by Simon & Schuster's new imprint, Salaam Reads, which is focused on telling Muslim stories. The book follows Jenna Yusuf, a 15-year-old Muslim American teen struggling with balancing her family, friends, school and her crush on a boy who isn't Muslim.

  YA novelist S.K. Ali on why we need more Muslim stories

  Exploring the dynamics of a Muslim family

  "Jenna comes from a home situation where her parents are divorced and her parents choose to practice Islam in different ways. Her father is more secular and her mother interprets Islam more traditionally. So there is this conflict happening where the father interprets Jenna's actions and her wanting to cover as a statement against him when in reality, it is Jenna feeling comfort with her mom's identity. She's figuring out who she is.

  "I situated her in this complex family dynamic because <>. By introducing this into this character's world, I wanted readers to <>."

  The power of girl power and YA

  "I love reading YA. I feel young adult writers explore more terrain. There's more of an ease to discuss identities not often featured. There's more diversity. There's a pushing of the limits that are traditionally seen in literature.

  "I love girl power stories. I knew that when I wrote something that it would play be big theme in it. It's about a girl waking up to her own power and her own voice and taking a stand. It was so natural for me to gravitate towards writing that. When you're from a marginalized community you're often defined already. Before you can answer the question, 'Who am I?', you are told who you are. It's very challenging because you're not even sure of who you are. So you're working against forces to define yourself. I wanted to explore that in this book."

  S.K. Ali's comments have been edited and condensed.

• Huffington Post - https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sk-ali-on-muslimshelfspace-the-muslim-ban-new_us_58adea6ee4b0d0d07e7c6664

  David Henry Sterry, Contributor
  Author, activist, performer, muckraker, book doctor
  S.K. Ali on #MuslimShelfSpace, the Muslim Ban, New YA, and Halal Gummies
  02/22/2017 04:29 pm ET Updated Feb 24, 2017
  We became aware of S.K. Ali from our good friend Ayesha Mattu, author of Love, InshAllah fame. When we found out about the amazing work she’s doing, we decided to get her two cents on Muslim voices, books, and gummies.

  S.K. Ali
  The Book Doctors: Why did you start #MuslimShelfSpace?

  S.K. Ali: In early December, I tweeted a picture of my shelf of works by Muslim authors in response to the news of a book that “parodied” classic children’s book covers using extremely racist imagery of marginalized communities. My shelf of Muslim authors offered narratives that stared down the awful stereotypes of Muslims included in the “parodied” covers.

  Friends wanted to post their own shelf pictures and we discussed how important it was that Muslim #ownvoices narratives be centered in order to counter all the Islamophobia the U.S. election season had brought to the fore, and voila, #MuslimShelfSpace was born. We launched the hashtag on January 1, 2017 and it garnered a lot of support from people committing to making space for Muslim authors on their shelves.

  TBD: Why is it so important to hear our “own voices”?

  SKA: Islam and Muslims are often, well, almost relentlessly, discussed in public spheres such as the media and politics, but Muslims who claim the identity are rarely involved in the conversations. The focus is on Muslims — without Muslim voices. When we have that happening — people of a certain identity talked about, talked of, talked for but never or very rarely DOING the actual talking — we can quickly slide onto the dangerous terrain of othering to the point of denying people’s humanity. And then we begin to see policies like the Muslim Ban moving into place.

  If that itself is not enough of an important reason to hear own voice narratives, what if I said they were immensely more entertaining than the faked stuff? Because authenticity — of the rarely seen variety — offers fresh takes and whoa, you’ll be taken to places/spaces you might not have visited before. Fun!

  TBD: What are some of your favorite books and why?

  SKA: I have too many! Because my debut novel is Young Adult, I can tell you some of my YA/MG favorites:

  The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness — breathtakingly ambitious and unique. The setting of the series is so out-of-this-world, yet familiar and the conflicts and issues explored are relevant to our point in time. It’s such an important series.

  When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead — crucial to me as a writer because it wasn’t afraid to be what it was: unconstrained. As writers, it’s important to go back to that space when you first discovered the thrill of creativity, before it became fenced (in your mind) by the mores of those who’ve already shaped the literary landscape(s). This book helped remind me to just be and write free.

  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart — I love girl power stories and this one was really well done, with a writing style that’s bare and upfront. It traces the moment of a girl waking up to the realities of gender inequity and proceeding to take the reigns of power into her own hands, all set to a backdrop of an old-money, private school.

  TBD: What are your feelings regarding the Muslim ban imposed by the current administration?

  SKA: The only feelings to be had on hearing such a vile thing: how does hate get to dictate the policies of a country with such a constitution, “We the People..”?

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  TBD: As a Canadian, how did you react to the Canadian terrorist attack by a white man on Muslims?

  SKA: Utter sadness. And the remembrance that Canada is not immune to the Islamophobia sweeping many parts of the world.

  TBD: How did you become an author?

  SKA: Since I was 12, I’ve known that I wanted to tell stories. I proceeded to get my degree in creative writing and then set the dream aside when I embarked on motherhood and pursuing a career as a teacher. It was only recently — ten years ago recently — that I picked the dream up again. That meant writing, learning, rewriting, and repeating until I got a literary agent and sold my book last year.

  TBD: Tell us about your book Saints & Misfits.

  SKA: It’s about a Muslim fifteen-year-old, Janna Yusuf, who finds her voice in the midst of something painful. It’s also about the diverse communities, plural, she moves in — her high school, neighborhood, the Muslim community. I’m honored that Saints & Misfits will be the first YA novel published by a major publisher, featuring an American-Muslim in hijab, set in an American-Muslim community. The book also looks at relationships in various forms, including Janna’s friendship with an elderly Hindu neighbor.

  “S.K. Ali’s Saints and Misfits follows Janna Yusuf, a geeky, hijabi Arab-Indian-American girl, as she navigates high school and the possibility of first love—even though Muslim girls aren’t supposed to date, right? She’s trying to figure herself out, along with her place in the world, especially if that means revealing a shattering secret that just might send ripples through her tight-knit Muslim community.” -Sona Charaipotra, “11 of Our Most Anticipated #OwnVoices Reads of 2017”
  TBD: Is it true that there are halal gummy bears in the book?

  SKA: Yes, definitely. And halal marshmallows. (Cue screams from the creeping-sharia-alert crowd.)

  TBD: We hate to ask you this, but what advice do you have for writers and citizens who’d like to see more diverse books on the world’s shelves?

  SKA: My advice for writers from marginalized communities is to write the stories you want to see. Don’t limit yourself with the thought that nobody wants them — because that’s NOT TRUE. I point to the multi-billion dollar Islamic fashion industry that now major corporate brands are wanting to break into. Muslims who couldn’t find the clothes they wanted made the clothes they wanted and customers found them and bought from them. Same thing with writers and other artists: make what you want to see/read/write and your audience will find you. Don’t be constrained by the canon that came before because that canon didn’t include you. (And, psst, another bit of advice: don’t delve on the why-it-didn’t-include-you thought too long because that’s how your writing won’t get done.)

  People who’d like to see more diversity in literature can support own voice narratives by boosting authors writing from within their identities. [This is where I’d like to say, thanks, David!]

  One thing not to do: PLEASE, PLEASE DON’T WRITE OUR STORIES FOR US. It’s really hard, impossible, even, to get it right and even the best-intentioned ones have a way of harming more than helping. And trust me, over the years, we’ve seen Muslim characters who, at their best, we don’t recognize and, at their worst, hurt us to the core with the way they’re depicted. For young readers especially, this kind of pain affects their understanding of their place in the world and that’s just too sad.

  S.K. Ali is a teacher based in Toronto whose writing on Muslim culture and life has appeared in the Toronto Star. Her family includes Muslim scholars consistently listed in the The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, and her insight into Muslim culture is both personal and far-reaching. S.K. Ali’s debut YA novel is a beautiful and nuanced story about a young woman exploring her identity through friendship, family, and faith. ​

  Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry are co-founders of The Book Doctors, a company that has helped countless authors get their books published. They are co-authors of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How To Write It, Sell It, and Market It... Successfully (Workman, 2015). They are also book editors, and between them they have authored 25 books, and appeared on National Public Radio, the London Times, and the front cover of the Sunday New York Times Book Review. Join The Book Doctors for NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza.

• Spine - http://spinemagazine.co/articles/sk-ali

  S. K. ALI ON SAINTS AND MISFITS, AND DIVERSITY IN PUBLISHING
  HIBA TAHIR

  In June, Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads imprint published Saints and Misfits, a stunning debut from Canadian teacher-turned-author S.K. Ali. Pitched as a “modern day My So-Called Life… starring a Muslim teen,” the novel centers on the life of a spunky hijabi protagonist, offering a fresh perspective in an otherwise saturated genre. Ali took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about her writing process and about diversity in publishing.

  How did you come to be a writer? More specifically, how did you come to write THIS book?

  I knew I loved writing from a young age -- that and art, fashion, anything creative really. After high school, I went on to get my degree in Creative Writing. However, becoming a writer was put on hold after marriage, kids and a "real job" took over my life. About eleven years ago, I turned back to the craft seriously and I've been doggedly pursuing becoming an author since then. I wrote one manuscript, revised it quite seriously but when I felt like it wasn't going anywhere, I saw it as the book that taught me how to write a book (by Not Being a Book, haha). Subsequently, I wrote Saints and Misfits.

  Cover Design: Chloe Foglia, Lettering: Nancy Howell, Photogaphy: Samia El-Hassani
  Cover Design: Chloe Foglia, Lettering: Nancy Howell, Photogaphy: Samia El-Hassani

  Describe the novel writing process for you. What's the journey from initial idea to completed project?

  It looks like it may be different each time but there are certain markers that appear to be the same. First, I need time to not-write my book. This is when ideas are gathering and I'm settling on important threads, themes, characters, scenes, settings etc. I do a lot of note-taking during this period -- including yes, in the shower and in the middle of the night. I also look at visuals and spend time in places I want to use in my story. After that, it's butt-in-chair for certain hours a day or week when I try to write with a goal in mind; usually scene or chapter goals (I'm not a word-count counting queen). And then I have periods where I let it sit and then return to it with fresh eyes. I always discover things when I do this. Once I'm done, I let it sit again and after re-reading it and being satisfied, I'll send it to my trusted critique partners and sometimes beta readers. I incorporate their feedback and then it's on to my literary agent. Of course, I rely on his input to ensure I've done the best I can.

  In recent years, publishing has become much more accepting of diversity. How does writing a book with diverse characters and themes differ from writing any other book?

  I don't think it's different than any other book if you consciously live with diversity. If someone doesn't have authentic experiences with diversity/humanity then it's hard to learn that -- it will be superficial and will come across that way. It's not something you can learn from a textbook.

  What do you have to say to readers who criticize marginalized writers for not writing to their specific marginalizations/experiences?

  Well, while I think writing from authentic spaces makes for better art, I also know that writing is an exercise in imagination. I don't think writers should be limited in what they can write. While it would be amazing if we had writers from marginalized communities sharing narratives we haven't heard, I know that for many it might not be what they're comfortable with or wanting to explore creatively. Writing should not be a to-do. Marginalized creators are not obliged to "teach" people through their art -- they can be free to be the type of artists they wish to be. At the same time, it's important to remember (for all of us) that writing outside your "lane" involves a lot of responsibility and vetting.

  What other hurdles still remain in the fight for diversity?

  I think we still haven't moved beyond the Single-Story idea in terms of content from marginalized writers. We're beginning to but there's still much work to be done.

  How has your life changed since the publication of your debut novel? Do you approach writing differently now?

  It's been crazy busy. I actually have a cloud CALENDAR now that I can access wherever I am because, yes, I get a lot of emails asking me for this or that on this or that date and I have to check everything! So it's been busy and so I'm getting to that stage where I've learned that I need to guard my writing time fiercely. Otherwise I won't get another book out and that makes me WORRIED.

  What are your creative plans for the future? Any new projects on the horizon?

  Right now I'm working on another YA contemporary novel, this time featuring Muslim love. (So excited about this!) I also wrote a picture book that is yet unannounced and I will be participating as an author in a YA Anthology titled Hungry Hearts, which will have interconnected short stories featuring food, family and culture. It has a great roster of authors and I can't wait to read everyone's stories!

Saints and Misfits
Anastasia M. Collins
93.4 (July-August 2017): p122.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Saints and Misfits

by S. K. Ali

Middle School, High School Salaam/Simon 328 pp.

6/17 978-1-4814-9924-8 $18.99 e-book ed. 978-1-4814-9926-2 $10.99

Sophomore Janna Yusuf, a hijab-wearing Flannery O'Connor devotee, knows that the world is full of "saints," "monsters," and "misfits." She considers herself the last, not quite sure where she belongs within her post-divorce family or amongst her friends, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Her uncertainty is exacerbated in the face of near-perfect saints, like her brother Muhammad and his soon-to-be fiancee Sarah, and especially in the presence of a monster--an O'Connor-esque monster who presents himself as a pillar of the Muslim community even as he assaults Janna at a family gathering. Resigning herself to silence, Janna tries to move forward with life as usual. But when the monster exposes Janna's crush on a non-Muslim boy and comments on photos of her in gym class without her hijab, friends and family join her attacker in expressing criticism, and Janna reaches her breaking point. Ali brings to life a nuanced intersection of culture, identity, and independence as Janna endures the typicalities of high school and the particularities of her evolving home life alongside the insidious impingement of rape culture. <>. ANASTASIA M. COLLINS

Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Collins, Anastasia M. "Saints and Misfits." The Horn Book Magazine, July-Aug. 2017, p. 122. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A500260345/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=bd2097de. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A500260345

Ali, S. K. Saints and Misfits
Stefanie N. Hughes
40.2 (June 2017): p60.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
4Q * 4P * J * S

Ali, S. K. Saints and Misfits. Salaam Reads/ Simon & Schuster, 2017. 336p. $18.99. 978-14814-9924-8.

Janna Yusuf, fifteen and Muslim, chooses to wear a hija; but sometimes, she does not want to hide her beautiful hair from Jeremy, the non-Muslim boy on whom she has a crush. Janna divides her world into three kinds of people (in reference to her favorite author, Flannery O'Connor): saints, misfits, and monsters. Janna is a misfit, caught between western and Muslim ideals of beauty, modesty, and dating, the daughter of divorced Egyptian and Indian parents. Farooq is a monster hiding behind a saint mask. An esteemed member of her tight-knit Muslim community, Farooq tries to rape her and then publically shames her. Silenced by fear, Janna must find the courage to confront the monster, with the help of the saints in her life, like "Niqabi Ninja" Sausun and Tats, her best friend.

Ali's much-needed novel <>, while also holding up <> who may recognize their own experiences in the story. Refreshingly, Ali does not address terrorism or war in the Middle East; she tells Janna's story with humor, compassion, and honesty. She balances the novel with an ethnically diverse cast of memorable characters, while addressing the complexity of the masks people wear and how these masks complicate knowing someone's true nature. Janna is "any girl," and most readers will relate to her emotions and struggles as she searches for her voice and finds it.--Stefanie N. Hughes.