If I could invite three people to a dinner party, it would definitely be Nizar Qabbani, Jane Austen, and Sigmund Freud.
Nizar Qabbani’s poetry has had such a profound impact on literature, especially with his exploration of love and social justice. I would love to hear him talk about how he finds that delicate balance between love and revolution. I’d probably ask him to recite "Choose", one of my absolute favorite poems of his, just to hear it in his own voice.
Jane Austen would bring a whole different level of cleverness to the table with her sharp wit and insightful commentary. Honestly, I’d probably ask her for a selfie (even though I’m not the biggest fan of photos), just so I could say I got one with her!
And finally, Sigmund Freud the psyche of the party. I’d definitely have to take advantage of the opportunity and selfishly ask him for a session. I can imagine lying on a couch, telling him all about my thoughts and getting his analysis! :)
I usually write in the early morning since I wake up between 3am to 4am. It’s when I am able to put all the thoughts I had into writing.
However, I find inspiration during my daily walks while listening to music. Depending on the beat, music can spark some incredible plot twists. Inspiration can also strike while I’m relaxing in bed before sleep. When my mind is calm, that’s when the best ideas seem to come, letting my imagination take over as the night’s peace inspires me.
I keep a journal where I write down all my thoughts. For the romance novel I’m currently working on, I draw inspiration from my old journals. Going through them helps me find storylines and ideas that fuel my creativity.
Not much, actually. I’ve always written about love because romance is my go-to genre, and I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the enemies-to-lovers trope. There’s something so intriguing and appealing about the impossible nature of their love stories and the twist in that shift from enemy to lover, even though I don’t necessarily think I’d want it in real-life relationships, since the suffering and toxicity involved can be too painful.
For a long time, I didn’t have the guts to dive deeper into character development because doing so would bring out a very personal side of me, mixing my own feelings and imagination. Instead, I focused on professional and societal issues in my writing. But now, I feel ready to challenge myself and finally embrace that personal side, diving into romance and allowing myself to explore that part of my creativity.
Yes, all my books are inspired by real-life experiences. I draw from my emotions to find inspiration and choose topics close to my heart.
For QUIETLY SPARKS, I wanted to help people who misunderstand introversion see what it feels like and what goes on in an introvert’s mind with wit and humor.
Alongside this theme, I wrote QUIET DIVERSITY using my HR expertise to guide professionals in creating workplaces that tap into and unleash incredible potential, ensuring that introverts, who make up half of the U.S. workforce, are not overlooked.
In UNHEARD VOICES, I reflected on my own experience with workplace harassment while also shedding light on deeper suffering. Indeed, men are often dismissed as victims of abuse and bullying, while statistics highlight the harsh reality, with the high suicide rate.
For TIMELESS HEARTBEAT, I shifted from professional topics to personal ones, putting my deepest feelings on paper, unburdening myself as I believe time heals everything. Poetry was a first step into shifting the genre, as I am a hopeless romantic, enjoying the deepest side of words when put in prose.
As for my current project, scheduled for publication at the end of 2025, I am working on a romantic novel series. This time, I am blending past experiences with creative storytelling, intensifying certain moments and weaving together what happened with what I wish had happened. Be ready for the emotional rollercoaster while reading this upcoming series.