The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar interview
Questions:
1. How did you come up with the story of The Henna Wars?
The initial idea came to me because of henna. I was visiting with my grandmother in Bangladesh, and I had a very spotty internet connection and only some tubes of henna for entertainment. I tried to teach myself how to do henna, which I wasn’t very good at, and this led to the idea of a school henna competition. Then I thought about how much more fun the story would be if it was simultaneously a romance!
2. Who is the main character(s) in The Henna Wars?
The main character is Nishat Ahsan. She’s Bangladeshi and Irish, Muslim, and a lesbian. She loves henna: it’s something that she has personal and cultural ties with. She loves spending her time hanging out with her little sister, Priti.
3. Which of the characters from The Henna Wars are you the most similar to?
I think I’m probably the most similar to Nishat. She’s a lot more artistic than I am (I’m not artistic at all), but we share similar values when it comes to culture, community, and family.
4. What surprised you while writing your book?
I was surprised by my ability to write comedy. I didn’t really think I could write romantic comedies before I wrote this book because I never really thought my humour would translate to a book like this!
5. Where can readers purchase The Henna Wars?
You can probably find it at your local bookshop, or you can find buy links on my website.
About You:
1. If you won a prize for something, what would it be and why?
I’m great at many useless things. I would win a prize for being able to type really fast (and semi-decently) with my eyes closed or I would win a prize for being able to read really fast.
2. What are some tips to the people who are becoming writers?
Don’t get stuck trying to write perfect drafts. Writing is all about editing and revising.
Read a lot, in your genre and outside of your genre, and recent and upcoming books. It’s important to be aware of what other people are writing, and it’s important to understand how other people are writing.
3. If you could invite 3 people to dinner (fictional, dead or real), who would it be?
I would invite bell hooks, Janelle Monáe, and Aang. It would be a very interesting dinner, but I think we would have some great conversation.
4. What do you like to do in your free time?
I like reading, annoying my little sister, and playing video games.
5. This or That: coffee or tea, ice cream or cake, bath or shower, fantasy books or realistic book, summer or winter
Tea, ice-cream, shower, realistic books, and winter (that’s when my birthday is)!
Questions:
1. How did you come up with the story of The Henna Wars?
The initial idea came to me because of henna. I was visiting with my grandmother in Bangladesh, and I had a very spotty internet connection and only some tubes of henna for entertainment. I tried to teach myself how to do henna, which I wasn’t very good at, and this led to the idea of a school henna competition. Then I thought about how much more fun the story would be if it was simultaneously a romance!
2. Who is the main character(s) in The Henna Wars?
The main character is Nishat Ahsan. She’s Bangladeshi and Irish, Muslim, and a lesbian. She loves henna: it’s something that she has personal and cultural ties with. She loves spending her time hanging out with her little sister, Priti.
3. Which of the characters from The Henna Wars are you the most similar to?
I think I’m probably the most similar to Nishat. She’s a lot more artistic than I am (I’m not artistic at all), but we share similar values when it comes to culture, community, and family.
4. What surprised you while writing your book?
I was surprised by my ability to write comedy. I didn’t really think I could write romantic comedies before I wrote this book because I never really thought my humour would translate to a book like this!
5. Where can readers purchase The Henna Wars?
You can probably find it at your local bookshop, or you can find buy links on my website.
About You:
1. If you won a prize for something, what would it be and why?
I’m great at many useless things. I would win a prize for being able to type really fast (and semi-decently) with my eyes closed or I would win a prize for being able to read really fast.
2. What are some tips to the people who are becoming writers?
Don’t get stuck trying to write perfect drafts. Writing is all about editing and revising.
Read a lot, in your genre and outside of your genre, and recent and upcoming books. It’s important to be aware of what other people are writing, and it’s important to understand how other people are writing.
3. If you could invite 3 people to dinner (fictional, dead or real), who would it be?
I would invite bell hooks, Janelle Monáe, and Aang. It would be a very interesting dinner, but I think we would have some great conversation.
4. What do you like to do in your free time?
I like reading, annoying my little sister, and playing video games.
5. This or That: coffee or tea, ice cream or cake, bath or shower, fantasy books or realistic book, summer or winter
Tea, ice-cream, shower, realistic books, and winter (that’s when my birthday is)!
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