Seher Hashmi

What was your favorite book as a child?

I was a huge fan of The Famous Five by Enid Blyton and many detective squad series in Urdu language which me and my cousins read over the summer vacations. A big book of classic fairy tales with colorful illustrations and glossy pictures depicting intricate designs of ball gowns and other lovely costumes remained an all-time delight for me.

Do you remember the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

It was my mother, a poet herself, whose writings inspired me to write and read. Initially, just to jot down whatever upsets me as a tween, later on, in the forms of poems affording me a more effective medium to say what loses its strength in oral discourse.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

It was an off-road drive in a desert safari which knocked the wind out of me every time the jeep careened on its two wheels while kicking up a sand cloud masking the windshield completely. With vision blinded and rude jerks upon several dunes, it felt as if I was riding an untamed stallion. It was full-throttle fun.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I have a deep connection with music and owe many of my poems to singers/songwriters. However, it always acts as prelude to writing. I don't play music while reading or writing, I feel fully engrossed and immersed in the process and like to stay focused on it.