An Interview with Azra Rahman, author of The Mother of My Children

Azra Rahman was born in India. She has been tapping into the profession of writing and published for the past nine years. The Mother of my Children is her debut novel. She currently lives in the beautiful valley of Salt Lake City, Utah, with her family of five.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My love of reading and listening to stories fueled the drive to write them myself. It was a blessing to have teachers who not only inspired but encouraged me continuously to keep writing.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

A small article I read in a local newspaper many years ago stuck with me through the years. Since reading it, I had wanted to weave a story around the events of that article. That article actually forms the climax of this novel.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title came to me even before I had completely formulated the plot points. I knew what it would be called, I just needed to bring to life a tale befitting the title.

Describe your dream book cover.

A dreamy landscape with a couple. A field of flowers, mist. Nature at its magical best.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have volunteered at the local community centers as a teacher and most recently, a youth counselor. I had briefly freelanced as a writer for different blog sites.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I don’t read relevant books for any purpose during my writing process. I like to keep my thoughts and writing process as pure, untainted and original as possible.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

That despite the story being set in a different cultural background, human nature and connection is universal. You don’t have to share the same region, religion, or belief system to connect with characters which might originally feel alien. People are the same everywhere. Experiences are the same everywhere.