The Poetteer

Hello readers! Also hello to the ones I see lurking in the shadows, waiting for my A to Z entries! (-: Today like any day, I'm blessed with many things thankful for those many things Before the weekend I revealed my thoughts on self publishing a poetry collection, woohoo! I volunteered the second time at the local Islamic school I found a new favorite, honey walnut shrimp it doesn't even taste like shrimp Over the weekend I was blessed to go to a wedding a Palestinian wedding to be exact, it was fairy tale like I learned so much from it about my culture I had fun, blessed to be with friends. -Fida Islaih {all writing is copyrighted}

Hello readers, As you know April is coming up in a few days and that also means the A to Z challenge! I've heard it before and always thought of it. This year... I'm participating in it for the first time! April is also national poetry month and Poetic Asides has a poem a day challenge. So my theme... instead of doing something for each... I'm combining them! Alphabet poetry! Duh! That's the first reason I have this blog. Check out the big list to see who else is participating in 'The Big Reveal' blog hop. So if you're still here, last week on my blog and twitter I hinted about something, today I'm sharing the details. It has to do with the challenges. I've seen people publish a book of their A to Z stuff. I want to do that! I even already created a cover! I want to publish a poetry collection, and that might just happen later this year... woohoo!! -Fida Islaih {all writing is copyrighted}

Hello readers, In a previous post, I mentioned reading Palace of Stone. I finished it and here's what I thought. Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love the descriptions as she travels. I love how they say and show a land remembers her people. I love that they stick up for each other or try to help. I love that the king and queen finally listened and talked to Miri. Most of all there is a revolution and that they show how it started and the starting points of it and that things can take a turn. There is a scene where they go to feed the poor. It reminds me of Isa (AS)'s mother Maryam (AS) as she went to feed the poor. The starting of the revolutions reminded me of the ones that recently happened. There are parts of the whole story I took note of for my own story. -Fida Islaih {all writing is copyrighted}

Hello readers, I'm blessed to have a night full of laughter and some philosophical moments that inspired ideas for poetry. I'm blessed to have seen my friends this weekend. I'm blessed to have made a new one. I'm blessed to have learned more things of my faith and renew what I know and my energy. I'm blessed to have more ideas for stories. I'm blessed to have learned more about myself not just directly from the lectures, but indirectly with interactions. I'm blessed with everything small like having chocolate and hearing the birds. Even though I didn't get into round 2 of PitchMadness, I'm blessed to have tried and I want to share it with you (feedback is welcomed): Name: Fida Islaih Title: Deciding Hijab Genre: YA contemporary Word Count: 11k Pitch: Yasmeen started wearing the headscarf. Along with covering up comes problems. There is unwanted attention from boys and misinformation. There is some good, she meets a faithful Christian gir

Hello readers, The other day I was at the bookstore with my New Orleans, French Quarter sweatshirt. I remember reading 'The Princess Academy'. There was book that went along with it, 'Palace of Stone'. I got it and read it as I enjoyed my Reece's peanut butter cup cookie. Along with reading a book, I bought a book. I bought 'Out of the Easy'. It's funny how I wore and held a book that both told of New Orleans: My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love the cover. The girl behind the cage says she is trapped, but is trying to get out. At first I was weary about reading this because the MC's mom is a prostitute and she lives in a house full of them. All she does is clean for them. I feel sorry for her. Yet as I find out she works in a bookstore and is planning to get out of town I grew to like her. I continue to like her because she goes on to help a mentally ill person. She also has flaws, she is naive and I can relate to that. She hides things in a

Hello readers, Today is also TCWT's March blog chain. The prompt: “Write a letter to an antagonist.” But I don't know who to write the letter to and what. This will be updated later today when I do. I hope you understand, Thanks! Well, I decided to write to a few antagonists instead of one, I hope you don't mind. Also, I'll warn you, there are some spoilers. If you plan to read 'The House I Loved' don't read paragraph two. Enjoy the letter! Dear antagonists, There is some of you I hate and some I'm okay with. I'd like for you to leave. But then how would a story happen without you. Voldy, I know you hate that nickname. I hate that you had people kill my favorite people. But then what would be the plot of the story? So thank you! I know you're hating yourself right now. I'll leave you alone. The government in 'The House I Loved', how can you think of destroying a house, a town with so much history. People have grown to it.

Hello readers, I was reading Ali's post about this support group that talks about writerly doubts. I have doubts and I shall share them because that's the point of a support group. I used to be insecure about traditional publishing, that no one with accept my writing. Then I heard of self publishing. Yet that added to my insecurities. I have no money or talent to showcase my writing. After IndieReCon I felt a better, yet once the high went away, I find it's only a little bit better. I need a team, I need help. I call for help, but I don't get replies. That's another insecurity, I don't think I have any fans. My blog is becoming dead and I keep thinking of deactivating my twitter. The only reason I stay is for the knowledge. And the worse insecurity, dare I say it. All the above add to me... wanting to quit writing. I have little motivation and that motivation is to show my Muslim community you don't have to be a doctor or lawyer or teacher to be