Continuing Yesterday

Salaam and I'm laughing. It feels weird answering too much in a comment, so new it is:

If you weren't here earlier
MYNA camp is
Muslim youth of North America
I went to the spring one
and it was for the first time
and I can't wait for summer
for so many things

And that Christian wedding?
The prayers and traditions
from what I've seen and heard
from my mom is similar
to those of Muslims

Like the priest touching
the bride and groom's head
as he prays
in muslim tradition
the groom does that to the bride

I loved how as the couple
came out of the church
we all blew bubbles for them
it's surprise moments
like these you love.

Btw, my fingers crossed for my entry along with others in the contest, Query Kombat.

Also, just as this is unexpected to you it's unexpected to me too I'm going on blogging hiatus. I don't know how short or long. But I know I'll be back at the most on June to tell of my adventures hinted and why the absence. Thank you!

Love, Fida Islaih
(all writing is mine & copyrighted unless stated otherwise).

Monday Blessings & Award

Salaam, today is not a weekly edition because I haven't done it for a month. So as you can guess, this is an exclusive - monthly edition:

Y I went to my first myna camp. Y I finished my first A to Z Challege. Y I entered my second big contest and lost, but made friends. Y I learned to hold down my emotions a whole day after hearing bad news, more than one and death. Y God sent a sign that life is short and that we should take care of ourselves. Y I finished my first semester of college! Y I went to my first Christian wedding. Y I loved seeing the hoosier national forest Y I entered into my third big contest.


Also, I was given the Sunshine Award! Thank you, A Long!

The rules for accepting the award are:
Post the Sunshine Award logo.
Nominate ten fellow bloggers worthy of this award.
Announce their nomination on their blog.
Link a pingback to the nominator’s blog.

Favorite color? Any shade of purple!!

Favorite animal? Dolphins and cats. Any.

Favorite number? 20 because I'm about to turn that old and have a great summer!

Favorite nonalcoholic drink? Hot drink: Coffee or chocolate or tea. Cold drink: any kind of fruit milkshake or smoothie.

Favorite alcoholic drink? I don't and not even allowed to drink.

Facebook or Twitter? Twitter (:

My Passions? Family, faith, and friends. Writing and reading poetry and stories.

Giving or Receiving Gifts? Both!

Because of time I'm only nominating five bloggers: Zainab, Sania, Crystal, Sarah and Shaelaiza!

Love, Fida Islaih
(all writing is mine & copyrighted unless stated otherwise).

Losing, Yet Winning

Hello,

Even though there is a day left in the contest I think it's safe to talk:

It's no surprise when I didn't get picked. It's sad, but honestly I'm used to it.

I know why. My story was short. And just by putting myself out there I'm more subconscious of it. With or without help I noticed the errors I had of tense and age.
Just by putting myself out there I found new friends.

With and without professional help I came out with an improved readership and story.

But... I'm still good. I'm entering another contest and I even got a free pass for it! I can't wait!

Love, Fida Islaih
(all writing is mine & copyrighted unless stated otherwise).

A to Z Reflections

Hello readers, if you're here for my writer's voice entry, enjoy it!

But then come back here to see what I have to say about having just finished the A to Z Challenge.

This year happened to be my first time doing it. I've seen other bloggers do it before and always thought I should do it. And I finally did.

I may have some days full of inspiration and days where none came and I didn't want to post on my blog. But I did it because of you (and this badge):


I enjoyed seeing/reading what my blogger friends had to share. I enjoyed seeing/reading new blogger friends.

I enjoyed finding Muslim girl poets like Sania and Zainab. Finding short stories by Sarah and Christine. And tips from Tara, Crystal and Courtney. Thanks ladies!

I enjoyed getting new readers and comments. I love the loyalty and I hope it continues.

Btw, if you remember during the big reveal/preview that I said I'd be having a poetry collection published by the end of the year. Well, I found a self publishing platform to go along with. For now I need to make a specific plan. And of course I'll keep you updated.

Oh, wait! What's your favorite poem from this challenge?

Thanks & Love, Fida Islaih
(all writing is mine & copyrighted unless stated otherwise).

My Writer's Voice Entry

Hello readers,

Through the luck of the Rafflecopter draw, I got picked to enter the Writer’s Voice, a multi-blog, multi-agent contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat.), Monica B.W. of Love YA, and Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes. (You can read all about it here.) As part of the contest, here are my query + 250!

My Query:

DECIDING HIJAB is a 15,100 worded multicultural, girly YA. 15 year old Yasmeen recently started wearing the headscarf. Along with covering up comes problems. She faces an atheist teacher giving mis-information and getting unwanted attention from a boy.

Some good comes out of this, Yasmeen meets a faithful Christian girl named Jenna and she has a load of questions for her interest in their religion, Islam. They faces many problems, yet that doesn't stop them from being who they are and want to be.

I'm a muslim college student and poet. I have been published in two small Muslim girl magazines and a couple Muslim girl websites. Recently I submitted a poem on Teen Ink and received an 'Editor's Choice' award. I'm also on a Muslim youth magazine editorial board.

Thank you for considering my writing and I hope to hear back soon.

First 250 Words:

I remember as a toddler I always go to the mosque with my mom and sister. It is another Friday, yet we are rushing. My mom didn't get anything to keep me busy or put on my headscarf. At the mosque while everyone is listening, I wander around the room. I like seeing all the women and girls in their scarves. They are colorful.

Getting bored, I go to my sister. I pet my own hair. Then I touch my sister's scarf. She understands what I want, but doesn't have my scarf, so she sends me to my mom. I do what I did to my sister to my mom. She gives me my scarf. I go back to sister to help me put it on. After that I sit down patiently.

We don't stay in the community too long. We always have to move. From state to state, I go to three schools in four years. Finally, in fifth grade my family settled in a small town. I'm Yasmeen and I start seventh grade in a few days. Ramadan is starting, too.

On the first night of Ramadan we have a small iftar at home. The next day my parents invite the community to our house for Iftar. I'm glad I made friends quickly or it would have been more awkward than it actually was. My friend, Noor and I sit in my room talking where every few minutes my brothers and their older friends keep barging into my room.

Love, Fida Islaih
(all writing is mine & copyrighted unless stated otherwise).

Cover Reveal of Kindar's Cure

Hello readers! I know today is IWSG, but I don't have anything for it. Well, I'm happy, maybe insecure about crowd funding my poetry collection on Pubslush. Other that that, made a new friend! She's the host of Query Kombat and publishing her first book!! Welcome Michelle!



Her book is called Kindar's Cure. Here's the blurb:

Princess Kindar of Anost dreams of playing the hero and succeeding to her mother’s throne. But dreams are for fools. Reality involves two healthy sisters and a wasting disease of suffocating cough that’s killing her by inches. When her elder sister is murdered, the blame falls on Kindar, putting her head on the chopping block.

No one who survives eighteen years of choke lung lacks determination. A novice wizard, Maladonis Bin, approaches with a vision—a cure in a barren land of volcanic fumes. As choices go, a charming bootlicker that trips over his own feet isn’t the best option, but beggars can’t be choosers. Kindar escapes with Mal and several longtime attendants only to have her eyes opened that her country faces dark times.

Her mother’s decision to close the prosperous mines spurs poverty and joblessness, inciting rebellion and opening Anost to foreign invasion. As Mal urges her toward a cure that will prove his visions, suddenly, an ally turns traitor, delivering Kindar to a rebel army, who have their own plans for a sickly princess.

With the killer poised to strike again, the rebels bearing down, and the country falling apart, she must weigh her personal hunt for a cure against saving her people.

Kindar's Cure on Goodreads

Also, here's more about her: She lives in the bustling metropolis of northern Indiana (I live in Indy, too!) with her hubby and two teenagers. Two papillons help balance out the teenage drama. Besides working with special needs children by day, she writes all sorts of fantasy, giving her imagination free range. A book worm, she passes up the darker vices in favor of chocolate and looks for any excuse to reward herself. Bio finished? Time for a sweet snack.

Her YA epic fantasy, Kindar's Cure, is to be published by Divertir Publishing in May 2013. Her short story, Frost and Fog, was picked up by The Elephant's Bookshelf Press for their summer 2013 anthology.

Twitter: @Michelle4Laughs
Blog: It's in the Details
Facebook: Michelle Hauck, Author

-Fida Islaih
{all writing is copyrighted}

A to Z: Z is for Zzz's

Hello readers! It's the last day of the challenge. It's bittersweet. But for Z all I can think about is Zzz's. Since it's the last day I have three poems and most of them are inspired/about sleep. Enjoy! (I hope they don't make you fall asleep, lol)!

Sleep or Work

All I want to do is sleep
but the sun is shining bright
and at my face
calling me to get on with my day

It may hard to get up
but you have to
you have one more thing to do
and then it's done

You'll get to do what you want
whenever you want
but for now you show
one last time the skills you got.

Sleep

For a while now
you worked your mind so hard
without a break

You finally get one
and don't do any thinking
just falling into your bed
and falling asleep.

The End

You've reached the end
and know what to do beyond the end
it's outlined

But after throwing yourself out there
you're surprised and they are surprised
you're tired and others are, too
you've reached the end

Give each other a break
and beyond the end
you and others will live on.

-Fida Islaih
{all writing is copyrighted}