Anam Tariq is a poet, writer, and editor from India. She is the author of the poetry collection, A Leaf upon a Book (Leadstart, 2022). Her poems nestle in The Punch Magazine, Lucky Jefferson, Last Leaves, SeaGlass Literary, Full House Literary, and elsewhere. Anam is a Pushcart Prize nominated poet. She won the Verse of Silence Poetry Contest 2023, was a finalist in Lucky Jefferson's Poetry and Prose Contest 2023, and was longlisted for the Glass House Poetry Award 2024. Anam loves nature, cats, poetry, and reading books. Find her at www.anamtariq.in or @anam.tariq_ (IG).
Rafia Khader is a writer and researcher with over fifteen years of experience working in the faith-based nonprofit sector. She is passionate about cultivating a flourishing community of Muslims in America primarily through writing. She has co-authored academic articles on religion and civil society and on the role of religion in fundraising. Her writing has also been published in Christian Century, New America, The Tempest, State of Formation, Patheos, Interfaith America, About Islam, Blue Minaret, and The Aerogram. She is currently in the process of writing two non-fiction books and writes regularly on Substack at rafiakhader.substack.com
Ameerah Brown is from Chicago, studying for her master's in clinical Exercise Physiology at UIC. She attended North Park university where she minored in English. She enjoys anime, skateboarding, taking adventures through nature, and spending time with family. Ameerah is currently working on crafting a short story collection and poetry.
Shazia Khan is a writer and avid reader. Though she has been writing poetry her whole life, she began venturing into writing novels in 2016. She enjoys writing female-centric stories that showcase everyday events from a diverse perspective. As a reader, she has been inspired by many Muslim authors and hopes to join their ranks. Her other passions include Islamic studies, astronomy, traveling and embarking on food adventures around her city.
Umbar Nadeem is from Vancouver, British Columbia studying Psychology and Creative Writing at UBC. She has been writing poems and short stories ever since she was little and dreams of one day, coming out with her own poetry book. She loves reading, iced coffee, and horror movies. She’s also passionate about worldly affairs, geopolitics, and spreading awareness about human rights issues whenever she can.
HB is an aspiring writer, storyteller, and copywriter.
Amira Ahmed is a writer and education student from London with aspirations of becoming a teacher. She runs Muhsinaat, a book club and journaling platform for Muslim women focused on faith, reflection, and personal growth. Passionate about nurturing young minds and building community, Amira enjoys reading, teaching, and writing about identity, faith, and culture.
Ayesha Nasir is a multimedia journalist from Pakistan, currently writing from Canada (Turtle Island). Her testimonial on voter intimidation and election rigging was used in "REC the Vote", nominated for an Emmy Award (2017) for Outstanding Original Interactive Program; it lost to "The People's House — Inside the White House with Barack and Michelle Obama." She has worked as a digital producer at the Hamilton Spectator and the Toronto Star. Reading and writing are a sacred haven for her while she raises her children.
Bilal Sohail is from Ann Arbor, Michigan currently working as an Analyst at Michigan Medicine. He loves to play basketball, lift weights, and spend time with is wife and two children. He is currently working on several projects that include poetry and a novel which has been a life long dream of his.
