What are you reading now?

The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara

If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only have five books – what would they be?

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

TJ Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo

The Silmarillion by J R R Tolkien

Where is your favourite place to read?

On the couch in my living room! I have loads of big windows that let in a wonderful amount of natural light

Do you read one book at a time or multiple?

One! I also tend to read books quickly (within a few days to a week) so it makes my head hurt to juggle more than one story at a time.

Do you use a bookmark or fold the corners of pages?

Bookmark! I love pretty bookmarks and try to collect as many as I can, especially when traveling.

What sparked the idea for your novel A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison?

I don’t think it was one thing that sparked the idea but rather many elements being pulled together to craft a story. I knew I wanted to write a cosy fantasy story so I drew from many elements that I loved and worked from there: an enchanted forest, witches with interesting magic, a found family of sisters. I wanted the book to have an old Disney and Studio Ghibli type of vibe.

What inspired you to create a world where potions, witches, and apothecaries play such a central role?

There’s a strong reliance on natural remedies in Pakistani culture, so I drew inspiration from that. In Urdu, there’s this word ‘totka’, which is kind of like a tip or trick, and totkas are often used to cure ailments. They’re often passed down through the generations, by grandmothers or aunts or mothers, and they usually rely upon the medicinal properties of herbs or other natural ingredients. I swear the women of my family have a totka for everything, and many times, the totka might feel a little far-fetched, but it always works!

What was the most fun part of writing Bisma and Xander’s dynamic?

Their banter, for sure. I think a golden retriever bf x black cat gf is really, really fun to write! And no matter how prickly or outright mean Bisma is, Xander is just as obnoxiously chipper and bright, which, of course, only makes Bisma more aggravated and lends to more verbal sparring, which is just so entertaining.

What book character would you be, and why?

From A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison, I think I would be Luna. She’s the second eldest sister, a hopeless romantic, and has a love for reading as well as a very weak spot for sweet treats. I am, in fact, all of those things.

If you could meet one author (living or dead) – who would it be and why?

J R R Tolkien! The world and lore he has created in Middle-Earth is so richly developed and carefully crafted that is a joy to engage with as a reader and that is immensely inspiring as an author. I find all of his work so impressive and commendable, and you can truly see it was a labuor of love. Also, he seemed like such a jovial and kind man, someone who would be great company.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aamna Qureshi is a Pakistani, Muslim American who adores words. She is the award-winning author of YA fantasy novel, The Lady or the Lion. She grew up on Long Island, New York, in a very loud household, surrounded by English (for school), Urdu (for conversation), and Punjabi (for emotion). Much of her childhood was spent being grounded for reading past her bed-time, writing stories in the backs of her notebooks, and being scolded by teachers for passing chapters under the tables. Through her writing, she wishes to inspire a love for the beautiful country and rich culture that informed much of her identity.

Visit Aamna Qureshi’s website