Who are you?

Who are you?

No, I'm not singing the opening song to CSI: Las Vegas. I am really asking you the question.

You're a writer. Okay, I got that. But who are you really, especially as a writer?

Just as when you go somewhere new and meet new people, you introduce yourself. You usually say you are this person, who comes from here and who hails originally from there.

Step into the writing world, and afterwards one step further, into the publishing world. How would you introduce yourself then?

The world is full of strangers. The people in publishing and writing circles don't know who you are, so you need to tell them more about you.

What do you say in this case? Just like you as a person introduce yourself, with a certain manner and in a certain way (pertinent details, vital info, etc), the same goes for the writing world. Let's break this further down:

Everyday world - you are either male or female.

Publishing world - you are from the writing pool, or from the editorial/publishing pool. Despite the fact that here, you can belong to both, in every situation, you will be one or the other.

Everyday world - you are White, Black, Indian, Asian, etc.

Publishing world - you write contemporary, historical, mainstream, paranormal, fantasy.

You see, for every way you introduce yourself, there is something for you to say.

Now, exactly as in the real world, you can be an Indo-Briton or an African-American, with a persona that carries both sides of the culture and where you fit in right in the middle...

Same goes in the writing world. You can be a historical writer who also combines in aspect of mystery, paranormal, fantasy. You integrate 'cultures/genres' and create something new.

This something new is your answer for me. That's who you are.

Until next time, when we may go more in depth into creating a unique identity for you, I'd love to receive your comments.

Aasiyah Qamar - Cultural romantic fiction, with a twist

With stories set amidst the rainbow nation of Mauritius, a multicultural island in the Southern Indian Ocean, author Aasiyah Qamar brings you tales of today's young women battling life on all fronts and finding love where they least expect it. Indo-Mauritian culture wants to stifle them in traditions, customs and antiquated morals while the world is opening its arms of modernity and globalisation. Where do these women belong? And more importantly, with whom?

Find out more about her first release, The Other Side, here.