Conversation with Saher Salim
Saher Salim, the gifted writer behind Untagged - Stories For The Soul, is celebrated for her remarkable ability to weave narratives that touch the deepest corners of the human heart. A natural-born storyteller with an innate passion for literature, Saher has dedicated her craft to creating stories that resonate profoundly with her readers.
Her writing is a masterful blend of eloquence, sensitivity, and emotional depth. Through her intricate storytelling, Saher explores universal themes such as love, loss, self-discovery, and transformation. Her words are imbued with a unique power to evoke raw emotion, inviting readers to embark on a reflective journey that often lingers long after the story ends.
Untagged - Stories For The Soul stands as a testament to Saher’s storytelling brilliance. This collection delves into the intricate tapestry of human experiences, illuminating the shared truths that unite us all. Each story within the collection is carefully crafted to challenge perceptions, inspire introspection, and offer new perspectives on life’s complexities.
Saher’s work transcends mere storytelling; it is an invitation to explore the essence of humanity, to embrace vulnerability, and to grow through the power of reflection. Her dedication to her art and her gift for touching lives through words have firmly established her as a voice that speaks to the soul.
1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your book, "UNTAGGED - Stories For The Soul"?
> The book inspired by real life events and characters. At the age of 16 I lost my father and brother in a car accident and that changed my life completely and began my journey into spirituality. Hence that is the main source of inspiration for this book.
2. What motivated you to write a collection of stories specifically focused on the soul?
> I have always been fascinated by inspiring and motivating stories since childhood. And I believe a good story is one that can impact some change or growth for the Soul. Each story revolves around everyday lives and characters that are deeply rooted in culture.
3. How did you come up with the title "UNTAGGED"? What does it represent in the context of your book?
> Untagged means to not label yourself or a tag. Life is all about evolving and creating new paths. The stories break stereotypes hence untagged.
4. Could you share with us some of the central themes or messages explored in your stories?
> The central themes of each story lies with strong female characters that are examples of empowerment empathy compassion and courage. For example Aisha in cinnamon is an ambitious young woman battling self worth and the loss of her parent . She navigates through a spiritual journey to seek the truth. Each story will resonate with some part of everyone life. While writing I wanted the reader to see some part of themselves in the characters.
5. What makes "UNTAGGED - Stories For The Soul" unique compared to other books in the same genre?
> It’s unique because it’s based on real life events that happen to us on a daily basis.
6. Did you face any challenges while writing this book? How did you overcome them?
> The biggest challenge was finding the time to write with a full time job. I stuck to some routine even if it was writing two sentences every day.
7. What kind of research or personal experiences did you draw upon to develop the stories in your book?
> I prefer writing in chaos. I take inspiration from the sounds, smells, faces and places around which I write. Sometimes I sat by the sea, sometimes in a café.
8. Can you highlight one or two stories from "UNTAGGED - Stories For The Soul" that have resonated deeply with readers or have personal significance to you?
> Cinnamon and Bread have resonated a lot with readers. Cinnamon deals with the loss of a parent which a lot of readers have reached out and shared that the story helped them heal.
Bread is personal story of finding self confidence and worth through food choices and battling obesity. This again is a very relatable topic which resonated with a lot of people.
9. How do you approach the process of crafting memorable characters and engaging storylines in your writing?
> I love the process of creating a character from scratch that’s the beauty of writing. I take inspiration from people I have met, seen or heard. Again the characters speak a language which I resonate with. Most of my characters are brave, compassionate ambitious and liberal.
10. In what ways do you believe your book can inspire and impact readers on a spiritual or emotional level?
> I wrote to book in an attempt of help people heal and deal with similar experiences of love, loss, etc. Readers have reached out saying that they cried, laughed , felt overwhelmed and joyous. That itself shows that it did create some impact. I am happy about it!
11. Are there any particular authors or literary influences that have shaped your writing style or inspired you as a writer?
> I am an avid reader since childhood. Of course Enid Blyton is my childhood hero author. But lately I have been influenced a lot by the writings of Turkish author Elif Safak.
12. What do you hope readers will take away from "UNTAGGED - Stories For The Soul" after reading it?
> I think readers will relate to the stories and hopefully get the courage break stereotypes. One of my readers did share that "the book is like a therapy".