We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marzieh Abbas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marzieh below.

Marzieh , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Being an author located in Pakistan and writing for the American market, I found very few people with the right insight. I was lucky in getting to learn from the best because thw whole world opened up when the Corona Virus hit and suddenly all the courses that were once only offered online, we accessible to everyone. But, I still struggled finding support and mentorship. As I took course after course, I realized access to the learing materials was overwhelming and not always tailored to the stage of learning I was at. I continued to write and revise, and luckily get published across genres and age categories, and as more and more writers began reaching out for help, I decided I wanted to create an organized way to pay it forward. It took lots of months of planning before I put together a comprehensive list of topics and developed the content for my webinar-style classes. I also offer AMA (Ask-me-Anything) sessions and manuscript critiques. I’ve kept the cost extremely reasonable so that it is easy for marginalized creators to access the material they need to break into the publishing industry.

Marzieh , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a baker turned award-winning author who loves adding magic to my creations—whether it’s a seven-layered rainbow cake or the books I write for children all over the world. My work is inspired by my Pakistani culture and Muslim heritage.

I’m a member of, and a critique ninja for Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and a graduate of both the Lyrical Language Lab and the Children’s Book Academy.

I’m the author of the popular chapter book series NADIA & NADIR. My debut picture book in the traditional American market, titled A Dupatta Is…, was released by Macmillan Publishers (USA) in 2023. Subsequent titles include:

Henna Is… (Feiwel & Friends, 2024)

Awe-Samosas! (Clarion, 2024)

A Ramadan to Remember (Soaring Kite Books, 2024)

Yasmeen Lari, Green Architect (Clarion, 2024)

Friday Fun ( Little Bee Books, 2024)

Excited for Eid (Little Bee Books, 2024)

The Camel Library, A True Story from Pakistan (Feiwel & Friends, 2025)

Radiant Ramadan (Little Bee Books, 2025)

Aarzu All Around (Simon & Schuster, 2025)

When I’m not writing, I enjoy learning new skills, jumping rope, sipping chai, and observing nature. I dream of owning a talking parrot someday. Until then, I live in Pakistan with my husband and children, who inspire me every single day.

I began writing in May 2019. Having lived in Pakistan since I was 11, I didn’t have much access to the latest children’s books. I loved reading and devoured everything I could get my hands on as a child. Unfortunately, we don’t have public libraries, and if we do they’re in such a sorry state, with such outdated books, that no one visits them. When I enrolled my son in a reading program, after school hours, I hung around in the waiting area with my then two-year-old daughter. The waiting area was a lovely private library, and my daughter and I dove in! It’s there that I came across Malala’s Magic Pencil, What Do You Do With An Idea, and The Day the Crayon’s Quit, along with many other lovely, fairly recent titles. It was love at first sight.

I penned down my first two books, which were soon picked up by niche Muslim Publishers, one in the US and one in the UK (that market works differently and is easier to break into). I continued to do all the research I could, hearing read-alouds on YouTube and taking courses online. I came across Mira’s Children’s Book Academy course and applied for a scholarship, which I won. That’s where I learnt about agents and all the basics of PB writing. In September 2019, I completed my first manuscript for the traditional market. I joined Twitter and wrote a couple more manuscripts, paid for critiques, joined SCBWI in February of 2020, and began querying agents in March 2020.

I went through the SCBWI’s THE BOOK, and scanned the MSWL (Manuscript Wishlist) website. I joined Twitter and loved the #WritingCommunity there. I watched lots of YouTube videos, too. I asked #amquerying questions on Twitter and attended regional conferences which were all online due to the pandemic.

I queried roughly 40 agents and editors over a period of six months on two manuscripts I had polished. I didn’t hear back from many of them. I got some very encouraging rejections and ended up with three offers. I signed with Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency and have since been represented by her.

As I waited for responses on our first few picture book submissions, I began learning about how to write in other age categories and genres. I continued taking classes (whenever I found them and whatever I could afford) to hone my craft. It’s been two years since my debut in the traditional publishing market and it’s been a steep learning curve, but also very rewarding.

I’ve been a mentor for the Picture Book Rising Stars mentorship program, that favors marginalized creators, for three years and have taught classes through The Writing Barn and the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge Community. I offer classes, critiques, and mentorship sessions through my wesbite: www.marziehabbas.com and love helping aspiring authors realize their dreams

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I get to do what I love and I love what I do.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have a love-hate relationship with SM, but over the years I’ve come to realize all creators need to be on atleast one or two platforms; for me those are FB and IG. My top tips for authors are:
1. Be Consistent, Not Constant
Post regularly (e.g., 2–4 times a week), but don’t feel pressure to post daily. A steady rhythm builds trust without burning you out.

2. Share More Than Just Your Book
Mix content:

Behind-the-scenes writing process

Quotes or snippets from your work

Struggles as a writer

Merch that gets you excited (like a new journal or a scented pen)

Bookish memes

Personal touches (like your writing rituals or tea breaks)

Fan art or reader reactions

3. Engage with Your Community
Reply to comments, ask questions, join hashtags like #AmWriting or #BookTok. Be part of the conversation, not just a broadcaster.

4. Use Hashtags Wisely
Use 5–10 targeted hashtags per post (e.g., #KidLit, #PictureBookAuthor, #BookRecommendations). Research what your audience follows.

5. Promote Gently, Celebrate Loudly
Don’t just say “buy my book.” Instead:

Show excitement when a milestone happens

Share reader reviews or photos

Celebrate cover reveals and launch days

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marziehabbas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marziehabbas_author/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marziehabbas
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marzieh-abbas-9b9939210/
• Twitter: https://x.com/MarziehAbbas