Today, Lori is interviewing S.K. Ali. They’ll be talking about feeling and emotion in YA fiction and her new book Love From Mecca to Medina.

S.K. Ali is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including Saints and Misfits, a finalist for the William C. Morris award, winner of the APALA Award and Middle East Book Award, and Love from A to Z, a Today Show's "Read with Jenna" Book Club selection. Both novels were critically acclaimed and named best YA books of the year by various media including Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.

Her novel, Misfit in Love, was a People magazine best book of summer 2021. Her books for younger readers include the widely acclaimed middle grade anthology Once Upon an Eid and the New York Times bestselling picture book, The Proudest Blue. She has a degree in Creative Writing and lives in Toronto with her family, a very vocal cat named Yeti, and a very quiet cat named Mochi. Her newest novel, Love From Mecca to Medina, went on sale October 18, 2022.

You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In this episode S.K. Ali and Lori discuss:

Why she gave her two main characters contrasting perspectives on life.
How the constraints of a set structure can lead to creativity.
Balancing a light tone with serious topics.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/432

432: Accessing Feeling and Emotions in Young Adult Romance - Interview