The Elementals spiritual science fiction series has gotten new Book Covers! Thanks to the Imagine AI App, I’ve been able to re-imagine new, beautiful book covers that beckon readers into the world of Terra!
If you haven’t already, get your copies today and experience the reading journey with Safiya Al Akhad as she searches for justice, meaning and peace in her world. Book One, The Discovery of the Cipher Key, is available here:
Inspiration often strikes me after I’ve gone through a life lesson that shakes me to my core, and the inspiration has always brought me a sense of comfort and encouragement after a storm. Lavender Hill in that respect is no different from the other books that I have published. It is, however, my first attempt at writing young adult fiction.
In the young adult novel Lavender Hill, Layla Holmes had everything going for her: loving parents, a stable home, good grades, a great boyfriend, and a full scholarship to one of the best art schools in New England – then she began a slow, gradual slide into confusion that had her committed to the state hospital with the diagnosis of a psychotic break. The next thing she knew, her parents had packed her up and were moving her out of state to the backwoods of Vermont for a “fresh start.”
The last thing she wanted was to have to adjust to new people and get used to a new environment, but her parents weren’t giving her any choice. Layla would either make the move with them to Vermont, or she would have to go back to the residential psychiatric hospital for treatment. Preferring some semblance of freedom to a residential program, she complies with her parents’ wishes and ends up embarking upon a journey to wellness that she hadn’t expected.
Lavender Hill is a young adult novel that explores the topics of family relationships, mental health, community dynamics, and the importance of young women being aware of and empowered by the balance between having their own agency and heeding the good advice and counsel of their family, community or village.
Pre orders are available in Kindle format on Amazon at the link below and the book release is scheduled for December 1, 2023. Paperback and Kindle copies will be available for reading at that time.
Peace, blessings and the best of health to you and yours!
So. I’ve been away from the Mindworks bookstore for a while, healing, and purifying; and adjusting to the challenges and changes that can appear as we take this life’s journey, but it’s time to open up the shutters, dust off the shelves, and let in some sunshine.
As I prayerfully embark upon this next chapter of my life, I’m inspired to revisit my very first book idea, Luther’s Kufi and the First Day of School. Sameerah’s Hijab and the First Day of School was originally about Luther’s Kufi and the experiences of my son when he first started public school as a child. As a novice author at the time, I followed the advice of my publisher and agreed to change the story for the sake of greater readership and marketing, and al hamdulilah, Allah Ta’aala knows best.
I now, however, have the chance to publish the original story, subhanaa’Allah, and Allah Ta’aala knows best. I’ve begun my creative process surrounding the book idea and I hope to re-write the story and publish the book early next year, inshaa’Allah. I’ve designed a first draft of the book cover (which helps me to envision where I want the story to go) and I would love to hear any feedback, comments or suggestions that you might have.
As always, thank you and may Allah Ta’aala bless and reward you for your support!
It’s almost time for summer and we all know what that means: SUMMER READING!!!!
If you’re looking to get started with some Islamic Women’s Fiction books, here are a few that I’ve written, and several that I’ve enjoyed by other authors. Each of these titles are available on Amazon. Enjoy, and never stop expanding your knowledge and imagination!
Peace and blessings beloved readers! I hope and pray that 2023 is a year of growth, guidance and forward motion for you and I! There have been a lot of changes in my life during the past few years and subhanaa’Allah, glory to God, I am still here striving and writing. And I have a new story to share! It’s entitled, Winter Souls.
I’ve learned recently that there is a form of storytelling that is utilized for actual healing of ailments and for the removal of negative perspectives! I had no idea! I mean, I’ve seen signs of such things in my personal life, but to know that a community of people have actually been implementing storytelling with that intention around the world has added a greater appreciation for that gift.
In light of the things that I’ve learned over the past couple of years, I’ve begun a new story with fresh characters, and with an analysis of current events for fostering hope and healing. Winter Souls: Escape from the Shadow Hunters is dedicated to my niece, who like many of the children of the post-Covid generation has been faced with challenges that we Generation X-ers didn’t have to deal with. In many ways our children are being forced to grow up too fast without the ability to actually enjoy their childhood.
In Winter Souls, the year is 2033 and there has been a global flooding event that has covered 7% of the earth’s landmasses with ocean. Most of the northern hemisphere around the world now experiences 7 months of winter, and civilization is struggling to keep up with the changes that have been wrought on the earth. Natural resources are spread thin, stock markets have crashed, unemployment rates have skyrocketed and global famine is a constant threat.
In Texas, which is now half it’s original size as a result of the rising coastlines in the southern U.S., our heroine, Zahra Mohammad, is also struggling, as most people are, to know herself and to make sense of how to exist in this changing world. Zahra’s mother warns her that if she’s not careful, she may be consumed by the winter souls, beings from the stories and oral traditions of Zahra’s mother’s indigenous tribe who reside in the Alaskan wilderness. Zahra insists that she doesn’t believe in the winter souls, but before the story is finished, she will.
Chapter One is available for reading on Kindle Vella at the link below, and you can follow the story on the Kindle Vella platform for forthcoming chapters.
Peace and blessings to you and yours from us here at Mindworks Publishing! Here’s to a productive 2023!
Read Winter Souls:Escape from the Shadow Hunters here:
Gratitude is a major principle in Islam although we sometimes take it for granted. While reflecting upon everything that I’m grateful for, I realize that sometimes all it takes is the phrase, “thank you” to let someone know that you appreciate them. To be able to give a gift along with that phrase can have an even greater impact and so I’d like to offer the gift of some e-books. Thank you for following this blog. Thank you for the contributions of good that you put out into the world. Thank you for being a part of my life’s journey and for allowing me to be a part of yours.
Two Wives One Family is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback format!
Read the sequel to One Love Two Wives and find out how Joanna Burrows discovers more about herself than she ever thought was possible.
From the back cover:
How do you cope when your life expectations get turned upside down? What do you do when you imagine that your life is going to unfold one way, but it ends up flowing in a direction that you were not prepared for? Joanna Burrows finds herself faced with these types of questions after she is diagnosed with cancer and as she navigates the challenges of living a life of plural marriage.
Two Wives, One Family is the sequel to One Love, Two Wives, the contemporary women’s fiction novel that introduces us to Joanna Burrows, a new convert to Islam, a new wife, and a new mother, who finds herself confronted with the concept of polygyny. In this installment, Joanna realizes that accepting the responsibilities of adulthood and family life can be difficult enough on its own but doing so under the duress of illness and with the added pressure of sharing a husband seems insurmountable at times. She ultimately discovers that when it comes to relationships, there needs to be an equal amount of give and take, especially when building a family. She realizes that a little bit of faith, a lot of divine grace, some love and some perseverance can provide the ingredients for a great recipe for serving a fulfilling dish of life lessons learned.