We recently connected with Heba Subeh-Hyder and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Heba, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I am an author of children’s books. This came to fruition soon after my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, which changed the trajectory of my life. I decided to do what I’ve always loved, which was writing and spreading Islamic knowledge. I combined the two and wrote Muslim children’s stories because this was a large missing piece in the writing industry. It’s a niche area, and it is overlooked and highly neglected. Growing up in America, I never read books that represented me, and if there was a Muslim character in it, it was always a stereotype; so I decided to change that. My books portray a strong Muslim girl that looks like the majority of Muslim kids I know, who stays true to her identity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Muslim author who writes my own stories, before anyone else who is unqualified does. Five years ago, I realized that there was a shortage of good stories for muslim children that were written by Muslim authors and I decided to write one. I wanted my books to feature kids that looked like other Muslim kids, which is something this industry greatly lacks, and I wanted my books to strengthen children’s conviction in growing up as Muslims in Western society.

I’m so proud of the hard work and discipline that I have put into my work these last five years, and so humbled that I’ve published four books in under five years. My books are found in major retailers online, and have received great reviews. I’ve done this without compromising who I am as a Muslim American.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission for my writing is to have my books be mainstream published someday. I am 100% focused on this goal because I want my stories and what I have to say to reach a wide audience. I want children to grow up reading about themselves and seeing themselves from a positive lense, rather than the one portrayed by stereotypes and misconceptions. I want to do it for my children, my friends’ children, and children all over the world who feel like they have no place on bookshelves or in the world.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I started my writing journey, I realized that in order to spread news about my work, I needed to have a presence on social media. This is simply how work is being done in this era. I had a few goals in mind of the content I wanted to create on my account, and just did it. Through staying consistent and being true to myself, I managed to find my tribe who appreciated the value I added to their experience while surfing through my page. As long as you are consistent, do not compromise on yourself, and treat this as a job that you don’t drown in, you’ll have a successful experience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hebasubehhyder
• Facebook: @AuthorHebaSubehHyder
• Twitter: @hebasubehhyder