Several years ago, I took notice of a new Toronto Star columnist – Uzma Jalaluddin. In her bi-monthly column “Samosas and Maple Syrup“, she wrote (and still writes) about the daily struggles, annoyances, observances and hilarity that she encounters while raising her kids, going to work and attempting to write. Her life seemed to be pretty comparable to mine in so many ways – which drew me in. Her life also seemed to contrast mine in so many ways – which also drew me in.
The focus of her columns – the stories she told her readers – were relatable and funny and enjoyable to read. Yet, there was so much more going on beneath their written surface. There was a layer of depth to her writing – a compelling poignance that got me thinking; that got me motivated to write myself.
Throughout her columns, there was allusion to a bigger project – a novel. Uzma mentioned taking a hiatus from her teaching job in order to focus on her writing – on this project. And then in one of her more recent columns – the subject matter was dedicated to the specific fruits of her labour: the unveiling of her first novel – Ayesha At Last.
Every other Thursday, I fervently turn to the Life section to find out what topic has caught Uzma’s eye. And due to her ability to captivate, entertain and establish a connection between writer and reader – with only a few hundred words every couple of weeks, I was of course, eager to read her book.
I was not disappointed.
Just as it had from reading her columns, Uzma’s writing once again worked its enticing magic on me. Ayesha At Last was an enjoyable read from beginning to end – the story had me hooked and the characters had me enthralled. And in typical Uzma fashion – the writing spoke to me as a reader.
It was my pleasure to meet Uzma Jalaluddin during a recent book reading/meet-and-greet. It was also my pleasure to conduct an interview with her via email – the exchange recounted below.
T.K. You recently published your debut novel Ayesha At Last. In your own words, what is this story about?
U.J. Ayesha At Last is a revamped Pride and Prejudice set in a Toronto Muslim community. The main character Ayesha is in her late 20s, an immigrant from India who lives with her extended family. She wants to be a spoken word poet but has put aside her dream to take the stable path of substitute teaching, and to pay a debt to her wealthy uncle. She has a lot of family loyalty and is close to her young cousin Hafsa, who is silly and spoiled and determined to marry someone rich. Ayesha meanwhile is too busy trying to figure out her life to think about relationships.
Khalid is a young conservative Muslim man who dresses in traditional clothing (white robe; skull cap and customary long beard). He has just moved across the street from Ayesha, and he lives with his mother, and has a strained, long distance relationship with his sister. Khalid has never had a girlfriend, and is content to let his mother choose his bride . . . until he meets Ayesha. He also faces workplace discrimination, and finds an ally as he designs the website for his latest client, a woman’s lingerie company.
Ayesha At Last is a page-turner – focusing on family, tradition, identity. It is also a fun and joyful read with a colourful cast of characters – including Ayesha’s Shakespeare-quoting grandfather and her amateur detective grandmother.
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T.K. How did this story and novel come together for you – in terms of your initial idea, your writing process as well as the road to publication?
U.J. I have always wanted to write novels; this came out of a lifelong love of reading across all genres. Ayesha At Last is the second (or perhaps third) novel I wrote and the initial idea first came to me when I was out for dinner with a fellow writer. The character of Khalid – this devout, serious man who dressed as if he belonged in 7th-Century Arabia – flew into my mind and made me laugh. I wanted to write his story. And his story turned out to be a joyful love story, which I thought would provide a different perspective on Muslims and second generation immigrants.
While the initial idea arrived easily, the rest of the process was a long slog. I wrote the book in fits and spurts over a span of seven years, before attracting the attention of a literary agent and eventually publisher. I wrote it in coffee shops, on park benches, while waiting for my children to finish swimming, taekwondo and Scouts. I couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out but it was a long road to get here.
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Click on Uzmajalaluddin.com to order your copy of Ayesha At Last.
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T.K. Has the writing/publication of this book changed your life? How so?
U.J. Yes and no. Writing Ayesha At Last has brought me incredible happiness because as a writer I find joy in the act of creating stories. Finding an audience, a supportive agent and then publisher, has also been gratifying. I love hearing from people who have read my book and who relate to the characters, even if they are not Muslim or immigrants – simply because the themes I tackle are universal. Writing this novel has made me feel more confident about my abilities as a writer.
The biggest way it has changed my life is that I am very busy. I’m a high school teacher and a mom, so life was busy enough; writing and promoting a novel has added a whole other layer to my life.
T.K. What did you learn during this whole process – about yourself as a writer, about the publication process? Anything you’d do differently for next time?
U.J. I learned about the importance of staying organized and being efficient with my time. My teacher training has helped with this, since teaching is all about taking long term goals – such as teaching an entire course – and breaking it down into small, manageable chunks that each have their own timeline and success criteria. I also strive to follow the suggestions writer Neil Gaiman talked about in his famous convocation speech (at The University of the Arts – May 2012 in Philadelphia): “People keep working . . . because their work is good, and because they are easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine.”
T.K. Tell us about your teaching career – what subject do you teach, what grade, where? How long have you been teaching?
U.J. I began teaching high school in 2003 and work for the York Region District School Board north of Toronto. I teach English and Science to all grade levels. It is a job that comes with privilege and responsibility and brings me a lot of joy.
T.K. When did writing first enter your radar as something you were good at/ that you enjoyed doing?
U.J. When I was in Grade 2, my teacher made a big deal about a picture book I wrote and illustrated. The same thing happened again in Grade 4. By Grade 7, I was a voracious reader. It was also at this time that I started keeping a diary – a practice I continued until university. English was always my favourite subject. I took a creative writing class in Grade 12, and my teacher wrote in my yearbook that she expected I would be as prolific and successful a writer as Stephen King! While that part may have not come true, it was because of the encouragement of supportive teachers as well as my love of the written word that made me continue to develop my craft – even when I didn’t think it would lead anywhere.
T.K. Before the writing/publication of Ayesha At Last, what kinds of writing experience did you have under your belt?
U.J. I have written for community papers. My first paid gig was writing for Suhaag, a South Asian bridal magazine.
T.K. How did your Toronto Star column first come about? When did it begin and how often does it appear?
U.J. My column for the Star is the result of a funny experience that happened with my then seven-year-old son. He was asking some questions about sex and so I gave him “the talk”; the resulting conversation was hilarious. I wrote about it and then shared the story with some writing friends who encouraged me to send it to the Toronto Star. I googled the editor of the Life section, found a few email addresses, and pitched it to them. They got back to me right away with an offer to publish. I kept sending them stories and after about six months, they offered me a column. This was in 2015. My column is called “Samosas and Maple Syrup” and it appears in the Life section of the newspaper every other Thursday. Writing that column has been instrumental in helping me develop the discipline and confidence to continue writing fiction.
T.K. As a writer, what most inspires you?
U.J. A writer is a watcher; an observer of the world. Someone will say something funny or I will observe a hilarious moment and I’ll write it down on my phone or in my notebook. I daydream a lot; I’m interested in people and the decisions they make as well as their justifications and rationale. I’m inspired by my surroundings.
T.K. With being a mother of two, a high school teacher as well as a Toronto Star columnist, how did you physically find the time to work on Ayesha At Last?
U.J. Good question. Looking back on this – I have absolutely no idea! I guess when you look at the cumulative work – column writing, book writing, teaching, parenting – it all seems insurmountable. But as I said before, my teacher training kicks in and I start to break down all the tasks on my plate. So it’s: “Okay this week I have to mark one set of essays and pitch a few columns. Next week it’s make plans for the summer and write one of those columns.” I’m constantly juggling and sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but I’m figuring it out. My family is supportive, and my husband has taken on a lot – so that helps.
T.K. What do you hope to achieve for yourself/for others with your writing – in terms of Ayesha At Last, in terms of your column?
U.J. When I set out to write the novel that became Ayesha At Last, my goal was to write the sort of story that I wished existed. I wanted to write an entertaining, positive story about the Muslim community – the community that I saw but that didn’t exist on the page or screen. I wanted to depict characters from diverse backgrounds experiencing heartache but also moments of joy. I wanted to show these characters falling in love, leaning on supportive family, quarrelling and making up. I wanted them just to be.
Too often, narratives about other experiences are told in a way that is condescending; that reinforce harmful stereotypes or only show one perspective. I wanted to counter that. As a teacher and reader, I believe in the power of storytelling to influence others for the better. I wanted to be part of that.
T.K. Do you currently have another book in the works? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?
U.J. I am working on a second novel. Right now I’m describing it as (the 1998 movie) You’ve Got Mail set in rival halal restaurants. But it is also about changing demographics, gentrification, and the power of stories. It does not yet have a title and I am currently working through the revision process.
Feel free to check out Uzma’s website: uzmajalaluddin.com or connect with her on:
What an inspiring story and post! I’ll have to read this book. 🙂
Your article makes me want to go out and get this book today. Looking forward to reading it.
Absolutely loved this post! Thank you so much for introducing us to this lovely author!