Rafia Mirza – the woman who knows the art of storytelling...

Rafia Mirza’s passion for writing goes back to her early years when she was the co-editor of her school magazine. She contributed regularly to Pakistani newspapers whenever a social injustice caught her attention. She is an avid reader and a regular visitor of the library. “I spend so much time in the library that once, one of my grandsons asked his mother, ‘does grandma live in the library’?” elucidates Mirza, who was born and raised in Lahore but moved to Canada in 2011.

Mirza has been telling her bedtime stories to her grandchildren for years. However, the thought of getting her stories published had never crossed her mind. Her desire for writing was triggered when she fell seriously ill with Covid-19 and was housebound for months. In her darkest hours these stories were her silver lining, and provided an ideal opportunity to compose her delightful children’s stories.

Her maiden book, ‘Tales from the Land of Five Rivers’ has been published by Tellwell Publishers, Canada. The book is a collection of six short stories written in a bid to introduce children to the land of Punjab. The six tales are written in the background of colourful Punjab, where the author spent most of her childhood, a joy she wanted to share with children from around the world. Mirza has a unique, captivating, and refreshing style of storytelling.

Whilst a proud Pakistani, she feels blessed in her adopted country and considers the harmony that exists among its diverse communities worth celebrating. In an exclusive interview with You!, Rafia Mirza, who is on a short visit to Pakistan these days, shares her love for writing, especially for children, with our readers. Read on...

You! Tell us about your early life?

Rafia Mirza: I was born and brought up in Lahore. Did my Senior Cambridge from Cathedral School and then joined Kinnaird College. My subjects were English Literature, Geography and Psychology. Reading and writing have been my passion throughout my adult life. Lahore at that time was very peaceful and we freely roamed around the city without any fear. Riding my bike to Punjab Public Library was the high point of my weekend. I still get nostalgic about those days.

You! What made or inspired you to write ’Tales from the Land of Five Rivers’?

RM: I loved telling my grandkids bedtime stories, that I used to spin spontaneously. It was the best time we spent together. It was during the long months of being confined to my bedroom, while I was recovering from a very severe attack of Covid, that I decided to write and publish stories for kids around the world.

You! Can you tell us a bit about your book?

RM: ‘Tales from the Land of Five Rivers’ is a collection of six stories for kids between 7 to 10 years of age. These stories have the backdrop of Punjab. There is one story inspired by ‘Basant’, the colourful kite festival, while the rest are about endearing birds and animals and the joy that kids derive by bonding with them. The stories are very descriptive and rendered in a manner that captivates a child’s imagination right from the very beginning. Every story has a moral lesson too. This has been done very discreetly, making the stories as meaningful as they are entertaining.

You! How is the book structured?

RM: My book is beautifully illustrated. It is available in both, hard and soft covers and has been selling well on Amazon and major stores in the US and Canada. It is also available in libraries in Toronto.

You! How long did it take to finish ’Tales from the Land of Five Rivers’? Could you tell us a little bit about your path to publication? – From the itch of writing, the seed of an idea – through to finding an agent and being published?

RM: While I was writing my book, I was confined in my room and I had all the time at my disposal, hence, I was able to complete my book in three months. It wasn’t difficult for me to get my stories printed, as I was approached by Tellwell publishers – one of the best publishers in Canada.

You! For you, what makes a great story?

RM: A great story, in my opinion, is the one that captures the reader’s imagination and becomes a memorable experience in itself.

You! How have the readers received your work so far?

RM: This is one area where I have been very lucky. It has been getting promising reviews. I never imagined my book would get translated in other languages. It has been translated into Japanese and German languages, as well. AbeBooks is marketing my book all over North America and elsewhere. And I am so excited to learn that the German version is really selling well in Germany too.

You! What are some of your favourite books?

RM: My favourite scholars are Bertrand Russell and Voltaire. I loved reading PG Wodehouse when I was a young mother; his books were a treat indeed. ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell and ‘The Good Earth’ by Pearl S Buck are among my favourite books.

You! What did you like to read when you were a little girl?

RM: Agatha Christie’s books kept me hooked till the last page, during my school days.

You! What is your advice to aspiring writers?

RM: Well, if you want to write one page, you need to read 100 pages. So my advice to all young aspiring writers is to read, read and read. Reading widens your horizons and imagination for sure.

You! Who are your favourite authors that inspired you a lot?

RM: Bertrand Russell (A History of Western Philosophy); Aldous Huxley (Brave New World); George Orwell and Khushwant Singh.

You! What is your opinion on eBooks?

RM: I belong to a generation that hardly considers eBooks an option.

You! Are people still interested in reading and buying books?

RM: There will always be people who will love to read and will happily spend money on books. I can say that from my own experience. My book is selling well.

You! If you could offer one piece of advice to writers looking for their work to be published, what would it be?

RM: Be prepared for unexpected hurdles. You will need all the patience in the world if you are dreaming of becoming a published author.

You! Are you considering writing any novel or book?

RM: Hopefully yes, another collection of short stories, but it’s going to be for adults.

You! Have you thought of writing in Urdu?

RM: It’s a pity that I have no experience in writing in Urdu. The only Urdu I ever wrote were Letters to my late mother. And her replies to those used to start with a list of all the spelling mistakes and grammatical errors that I had made in them!

You! What is the most important advice you can give to women?

RM: Do not jump into marriage thoughtlessly. Remember, it is the most important decision you will ever make in your entire life.

You! What does a typical day look like for you?

RM: My typical day is usually spent with my family. I like to keep myself fit, so yoga is a part of my daily life too.

You! Your philosophy of life:

RM: It’s the people in our lives who enrich it.

You! What is the most important relationship lesson you have learnt so far?

RM: Life can give you the most unlikely surprises, both good and bad. So stay prepared.

You! What are some of your favourite ways to relax and have fun?

RM: I watch TV, browse YouTube, and sometimes watch an occasional movie. Cooking is very therapeutic for me as it relaxes my mind. I also enjoy good food. Sometimes I indulge in engaging conversations, especially with friends who hold views contrary to mine.

You! What books are currently on your bedside table?

RM: My favourite subjects have been evolving over the years. Now, I am drawn to nonfiction. You will find a lot of books on comparative religion and biographies on my bedside table.

You! How often do you visit Pakistan? And what do you miss in your life while living in Canada?

RM: I consider myself lucky for being able to visit Lahore almost every other year. I miss our desi food and the domestic help that is something people can only dream about while living abroad. And I miss the love and time people have for each other here and our very colourful weddings. However, I find the lavishness and the way money is squandered during our celebrations nothing less than insane.

You! What changes would you like to see in Pakistan?

RM: We need to be more tolerant as a society. And we need to upgrade our educational system.

You! What’s next on your agenda?

RM: To write more and more.

Erum Noor Muzaffar is the editor of You! magazine. She can be reached at iram29@hotmail.com