by Marzieh Abbas
Before I jump into my guest blog post, I want to thank you for having me, Tara! It’s such a pleasure to be here talking about my debut picture book for the traditional US market. Your blog has been a favorite ever since I began writing in 2019.
Now, let’s talk about how A DUPATTA IS… came to be:
Long before I began writing for children, I came across a photograph when my mom was cleaning out her drawers. It was one of us sisters wrapped in a dupatta, an oversized South-Asian scarf, that had been tied like a sari. It was from the time we were visiting Karachi to see my Dadi, my grandma. She always wore saris and loved to dress us girls up in pseudo-saris, using fancy dupattas.
A few years later, she passed away. My father, the youngest of three sons, along with us, moved back to Pakistan to be with her in her last years. A few weeks after she passed, we noticed my dad had been sleeping with her dupatta tucked beside his pillow. He had asked my mother never to wash it, as it held her scent and helped hold her memory close.
Not only did this stay with me for a long time, it was the spark of an idea for my debut picture book, A DUPATTA IS… (illustrated by Anu Chouhan) which releases today, April 11, 2023!
Once Anu started sharing her illustrations, I was moved to tears. Her detailed settings, inspired by her own childhood with her grandma, resembled my Dadi’s home, right down to the bangle stand and wooden cupboard.
The story came full circle when my mom cleared out a cupboard of my Dadi’s dupattas and saris and sent over one of her favourites for me. It was almost exactly the same as the dupatta Anu had illustrated in her first spread. Have a look! I used it as a backdrop for this shot:
Thank you, Marzieh! What a beautiful story behind your story!
Blog readers, Marzieh would love if you could join her for virtual book launch tomorrow, April 12, 2023 at 10 a.m. EST. You can register here.
Marzieh is also giving away a 30-minute AMA session!
Leave one comment below to enter. A random winner will be selected in two weeks!
Good luck!
Marzieh Abbas is a baker-turned-award-winning author. She loves adding magic to her creations- whether that’s a seven- layered rainbow cake or the books she writes for children all over the world. She enjoys learning new skills, jumping rope, sipping chai, and observing nature. A DUPATTA IS… is her debut picture book in the traditional American market. She has several upcoming children’s books including AWE-SAMOSAS (Clarion, 2024), HENNA IS…(Feiwel and Friends, 2024) and YASMEEN LARI, GREEN ARCHITECT (Clarion, 2024). Marzieh is a member of SCBWI and a graduate of the Lyrical Language Lab and Children’s Book Academy. Marzieh dreams of owning a talking parrot someday. But, until then, she lives in Pakistan with her husband and children who inspire her every day. She is represented by Lynnette Novak at The Seymour Agency. Visit her on the web at MarziehAbbas.com, Instagram @marziehabbas_author and Twitter @MarziehAbbas.
38 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 11, 2023 at 10:15 am
pathaap
What a lovely story, Marzieh. Congratulations to you and Anu!
April 11, 2023 at 10:21 am
Reed Hilton-Eddy
Very exciting! I have been following your progression to the birthday of this book! Congratulations.
April 11, 2023 at 10:22 am
Arlene Schenker
What a beautiful back story and beautiful looking book, Marzieh. Looking forward to reading it.
April 11, 2023 at 10:38 am
Armineh Manookian
Such a touching story. Congratulations on your beautiful book, Marzieh!
April 11, 2023 at 10:50 am
KamillaM
What a beautiful story! Congratulations on this upcoming book–I can’t wait to read it.
April 11, 2023 at 10:50 am
Kamilla
What a beautiful story! I love hearing how you carried this inspiration for so many years.
April 11, 2023 at 10:51 am
KamillaMm
Beautiful story! I love how you’ve carried that memory forward.
April 11, 2023 at 10:59 am
andreesantini
This looks like a sweet story, congrats!
April 11, 2023 at 11:04 am
Leslie Piotrowski
Can’t wait to read A DUPATTA IS…I love this type of story.
April 11, 2023 at 11:07 am
cindyjohnson2013
I loved reading your story behind the story! A Dupata Is. . . looks lovely!
April 11, 2023 at 11:41 am
Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner
Stunning story. Beautiful illustrations. Congratulations!
April 11, 2023 at 11:45 am
bamauthor
What an amazing story! As a historian, collecting memories is very important to me. We carry the past into the present to create the future.
April 11, 2023 at 11:52 am
Laura
Simply perfect and beautiful. Thank you.
April 11, 2023 at 11:53 am
claudia sloan
Congratulations!!! How exciting 🙂
April 11, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
Yay, Marzieh and Anu! Such a beautiful book!
April 11, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Bethanny Parker
Congrats on your new book!
April 11, 2023 at 1:24 pm
Stephanie Wildman
Congratulations on your book – I can’t wait to read it.
April 11, 2023 at 1:46 pm
seahorsecoffeeelektra79018
A Dupatta Is…a lovely story. I enjoy stories which include little known family traditions. The more we know about other cultures the easier it is to understand and connect with others.
April 11, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Kathy Doherty
It’s wonderful kids and adults will learn from your lovely book.
April 11, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Paul Brassard
Congratulations, Marzieh! It’s so wonderful to read about your relationship with your Dadi and especially the importance of her dupatta to your father. Also, it seems there is a very serendipitous spiritual connection between you and your illustrator… your beautiful book was undoubtedly meant to be!
April 11, 2023 at 3:56 pm
Martha Hollenhorst
Congratulations! Turning special memories into stories lets others into your world and the memories will live on.
April 11, 2023 at 3:58 pm
kristinscollins
What a neat story! Congratulations!
April 11, 2023 at 4:33 pm
caroljoymunro
I love that there are so many personal connections for you in the illustrations. It’s as though you and Anu Chouhan were meant to come together for this book.
April 11, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Kaye Baillie
Such a beautiful concept and backstory and the book looks just as beautiful. Congratulations Marzieh and Anu!
April 11, 2023 at 5:49 pm
pbbeckyk
What a lovely book! It is clear A Dupatta Is…bursts with heart in all the best ways. Congratulations, Marzieh! I can’t wait to read it.
April 11, 2023 at 6:26 pm
Nancy Ferguson
Congratulations, Marzieh. It looks like a loving book.
April 11, 2023 at 6:28 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Congrats on your book!
April 11, 2023 at 6:58 pm
Melissa Trempe
Such a sweet story behind the story! I love it. Thank you for sharing!
April 11, 2023 at 9:06 pm
nicolesalterbraun
Such lovely memories. You almost brought me to tears.
April 12, 2023 at 5:50 am
Colleen Dabney
Beautiful behind the book info
April 12, 2023 at 8:21 am
Kathryn LeRoy
Memories we carry forward are gift to ourselves and others. I love this story!
April 12, 2023 at 2:02 pm
Darcee A Freier
Congratulations! I look forward to reading A DUPATTA IS… and learning more about a culture I know so little about. Best to you!
April 12, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Rachelle Burk
What a beautiful story!
April 12, 2023 at 11:16 pm
seschipper
Truly wonderful memories! Looking forward to reading this story! 🙂
April 13, 2023 at 10:47 pm
Angie
So beautiful! Congratulations!!
April 17, 2023 at 7:36 pm
Rebecca Guzinski
A beautiful story and also a great sentimental journey for you. Congratulations!
April 19, 2023 at 8:57 am
Heidi Chupp
Congratulations, Marzieh! What a beautiful story that honors your Dadi. ❤
April 25, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Sue (Susan Uhlig) (she/her) (@susanuhlig)
How cool. And now I’ve learned something new.