Photography by Maryam Wahid

I was born in inner city Bradford in 1969, the seventh of eight children to immigrant parents who came to England in the 1960's. I was the first in the family to be born in the UK, also the first to continue in education past the age of 16 years (despite numerous hurdles).

I am a solicitor by profession, and have worked in the legal industry for 30 years. I was honoured to be shortlisted for the Law Society Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

I only started writing in my mid-forties, inspired to do so as a result of what I perceived to be the lack of representation in contemporary British fiction of diverse themes and characters. I often tackle difficult and taboo subjects through my writing, and my main characters are usually from my own cultural background.

I was Highly Commended as a finalist in the Nat West Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2017, and won British Muslim Woman of the Year at the British Muslim Awards 2019.

As well as writing, I run creative writing workshops, I am also a speaker, project creator, campaigner, volunteer, mentor, a Lloyds Bank Women of the Future Ambassador, and a Desi Blitz Arts Ambassador.