With my editor, Zahidah Azman.
Last night at the Authors & Artists Appreciation Night by IMAN Publication, I was honoured to receive the Synergy Award for Islamic Non-Fictionβan award recognizing "collaboration, dedication, and a commitment to raising the standard of excellence in this genre".
I was shaking the whole time I walked to the stage and for 5 minutes after I was back in my seat. To be honest, I was giggly the entire night because I just had so many stories in my mind about how HARD this whole journey has been haha and I just wanted to laugh it all out of my system.
The first one that came to mind was when my book "When You Think You're Falling" appeared on the Straits' Times Bestseller List for the first time, this conversation with my mum ensued:
Mum: Looks like your 3rd book is doing well!
Me: Yeah, alhamdulillah.
Mum: So are you going to write a 4th book?
Me: We'll see!
Mum: Don't need. Go find a job.
Hahahaha. This idea of me "getting a job" has been a contentious topic with my parents my entire adult life. When I was Editor at Muzlimbuzz.sg, they asked if it was volunteer work and "who reads it?" because it was an online magazine. (Lots of people read it actually.)
Then when I was working at LaunchGood for an entire SEVEN YEARS, they asked when I'd get a "real job" because we all worked remotely and I was working weird hours to accommodate my colleagues in the US/UK time zone. Plus I travelled a lot and probably looked like I was having too much fun.
After LaunchGood, I've been running my own business doing copywriting, translating, editing, indexing, project management, and of course, publishing with IMAN Publication. The questions and snide jokes about me not "having a job" continued.
Don't get me wrong. Despite their jabs, they are extremely supportive. Despite not being that fluent in English or reading poetry, my parents sat through my book launch with Baraka Blue at Wardah Books for "These Ramadan Lights".
And when the printers messed up and delayed the printing of my 2nd book, my parents and my brother waited for the books to be delivered to their place in Singapore then drove all night to Kuala Lumpur because I had a booth at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair the NEXT MORNING. So yes, they are the best mashaAllah.
I have more storiesβall the many unconventional decisions I've made in my life, buying a one-way ticket to Melbourne and organising my own book tour in Australia, my first publisher losing an entire set of signed books with personalised notes for my LaunchGood backers π« , eating cream cheese straight from the fridge when I was stressed trying to meet my writing deadlines, agreeing to more projects than I could handle and disappointing people.
Iβve often taken the road that felt right rather than the road that felt easy. It definitely helps to have faith, a mad amount of persistence (and stubbornness!), a wider-than-usual appetite to navigate uncertainty, and the BEST family members and friends who are forever willing to go along with my wild dreams. I love you all.
Alhamdulillah for the opportunities, everyoneeeee who supports and believes in my work (ALL OF YOU!), and the readers who make it all worthwhile. These small recognitions make the challenges a little sweeter and tell me that I shouldn't go "get a job" π€ͺ
My teacher, Anse Eamaan Rabbat, taught me this du'a 2 years ago that I've been reciting almost non-stop since - "Allahummasta'milni bima yurdhika anni" "O Allah, use me in whatever way pleases you." I'm passing that on.
Also, since I have your eyeballs and attention, I have 3 asks:
1. Please check out Daleel al-Khayrat and sign up for the newsletter at daleelalkhayrat.kit.com
2. If you're not already, you can support me and my work at buymeacoffee.com/ameeraaslam
3. Watch out for my annual Ramadan fundraiser (it's our 8th year!) SGMuslims4MigrantWorkers, and give your zakat to us then!
Thank you everyone. May Allah increase you in goodness and faith and grant us barakah in our time, our health, our wealth, our 'ilm and our relationships.
May He bless us in Shaaban and allow us to meet Ramadan, ameen!