A little recommendation and a little reflection
Dear lovely readers,
Here’s a little recommendation post for a coffee shop I visited yesterday. If you’ve been following my journey, you will know I’m currently in Cairo with family for this academic year (more on that later!).
This coffee shop is called Massive Cafe, and is complete with two floors and two stores of goodies to choose from (one side freshly baked, the other more like an express counter), indoor and outdoor seating, a ‘silent’ football screen and soulful music, it’s the perfect spot for a little contemplation and quiet.
I used it to reread my first novel, named THE WIFE WHO RAN AWAY, which I’m ready to self-publish onto Substack if it isn’t picked up by the end of April. That will bring my querying journey up to two years, and after a complete rewrite, I think it’s about time I gave my friends and kind, eager blog readers a little treat, don’t you?
I’ve recently started a book club (first virtual meet-up on 27th January, link to join up) and I’m already excited about the kind of conversations we will be having around my main character, Fareeda’, and the choices she makes in this story.
I’m also excited to introduce readers to Dawud, the male character she falls for in the second half of the story. I hope I’m not giving too much away if I say a couple of beta readers have already fallen hard for him. Lolll
In fact, it was one reader’s response that had me writing a straight-up romance for my second novel.
In publishing, a lot of things are out of our hands, but this little Substack story project I’m working towards is a beacon of light. Dickens being the serial writer that he was, it’s a great aspiration to write something that people are compelled to read week after week. At least, that’s the hope! And if, in the meantime, it gets picked up for a real publishing deal that’s awesome, too. The way I see it, it’s a win-win.
I already have a second novel. And I’m working on a third, and it’s this forward progression that excites me. This time last year I was reluctant to share any fiction with a ‘live’ readers, but now, the thought excites me. That’s progress, don’t you think? I’d love to have some real-time feedback too, so it’s all good.
PS If anyone has any recommendations, or would like me to check out any other eateries or coffee shops in Cairo, give me a shout!
(Check out a couple of vids on Instagram)
SidraAnsari.com 