This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with author Farzana Hakim.
I write all sorts of books. I’m a bit messed up like that because I’m not a one genre author! I’ve written contemporary fiction, literary fiction, and my latest projects are both historical. However, all my books have one thing in common which is the love element in them. I believe no story can be a complete story if it didn’t have a ‘love’ of some sort in it.
Can you describe your writing why?
I guess I’ve always been writing. Writing stories kept me busy when I was little and when I was big, they kept me sane. The best stress buster is writing. And I’ll be an advocate of writing as a form of therapy forever. What motivates me most these days is the need to have my voice heard. I want to write about topics that women like me want to read about like women like them. (Does this make sense?). I want to bring diversity and colour in books and because my debut novel, Sweethearts of Ilford Lane, was appreciated for its bravery in tackling ‘taboo’ for women in my community, I am all the more determined to keep going with storylines that will cause gasps and emotional roller coasters.
Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most
My favourite excerpt from Sweethearts of Ilford Lane:
The next few minutes the only sounds which could be heard in Hassan’s living room were the noises of transgression and dishonour being committed by none other than us two seventeen year old, clueless teenagers, who’d forgotten everything ever taught to them.
We had lost our way. Everything about that moment was wrong. The whole night was evil and corrupt. It was stupid and if I could take back time, believe me that night I would have stayed in my own room, fast asleep. Safe and chaste.
Not only the religious rules, we bypassed our culture, the values and norms which we had grown up learning and following. We crossed all the barriers set by family, set by etiquette and set by God.
We broke them all.
By letting Hassan near me, I was breaking my promise to Habib and Uncle and Aunty. I was committing the worst sin of all.
I was dishonouring my family.
But I swear I wouldn’t have let anybody blame Hassan for any of this because it was me who went to him. It was me who allowed him to suck all the morals out of me. I allowed him to strip all the layers of dignity and modesty which I’d proudly worn until then.
That night I was allowing Hassan to rip each bit of cloth away from my guarded self, revealing only my shame, my nudity, and my obsession for him.
I regret that night. It wasn’t meant to happen.
But it did.
Tell us about your latest project
I’m currently working on Chief of The Atlantic, a historical fiction novel about slavery. My protagonist is an African Chief who is tricked and sold into slavery. But the Chief’s ego is huge and he can’t accept this fate. Instead, he jumps overboard into the Atlantic believing he has outwitted the slavers and that the Ocean will welcome him with open arms.
The novel revolves around his past story and his relationship with the Ocean. Lots of adventure, fantasy, romance and heartbreak in this one.
What is your favourite cake?
It’s got to be coffee and walnut cake, the kick, the crunch and the crumbs… nothing can beat a slice of this cake!
Connect with Farzana here:
Twitter @farzanahakim
Instagram @farzanahakimauthor
Facebook @farzanahakimauthor
Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Laura Kehoe.
If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.
You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!
Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.
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