You know, escapist stuff.
Khans work has been compared to George R.R.
Martins, but it also explores issues of cultural divides and conflicts inspired by the contemporary and historical worlds.
One day, theyre just going to find a shadow of me in my chair.
First, I spent what feels like a lifetime in school pursuing graduate studies in law.
I practiced immigration law and taught international human rights law.
My Khorasan Archives fantasy series also encompasses human rights issues, but in a very different way.
With my Khattak/Getty crime series, Im looking outward at intersections and points of conflict between different communities.
Take us through a recent workday.
I wake up early and spend roughly an hour and a half managing my household.
On a day thats going well, I might squeeze in a half hour for exercise.
From 10 a.m. on, I spend the next six hours writing.
Before I write anything new, I review and edit the previous days writing.
On deadline, Ill put in several more hours of writing or editing.
When Im not on deadline, I spend a fair bit of time on publicity requests.
Its a constant juggling act.
I am a chai addict so that helps.
Besides your phone, what apps, gadgets, or tools cant you live without?
My favorite actual writing tool is a Foray blue ink pen, 0.5 mm.
I wish they sold them in twelve-packs.
Writing is a lonely profession, so Twitter helps alleviate that.
There is always so much to read, which is why I find Twitter irresistible.
Whats your workspace setup like?
I have three sets of crammed-to-the-brim bookshelves that comfort me when I need breaks from writing.
I look at other books and my mind relaxes.
I have an oversized AOC monitor so my eyes dont have to strain too much.
And I use both an agenda and a desk pad calendar to keep track of my deadlines and events.
Whats your favorite shortcut or hack?
There is no greater gift to a writer than the online thesaurus.
I use it fifty times a day to try out new words or just to spark ideas.
Is there anything unusual about your writing or editing process?
Ive been writing two books a year, so my process is very intense.
I have to write a lot every day, and my focus needs to be absolute.
One day, theyre just going to find a shadow of me in my chair.
Take us through an interesting, unusual, or finicky process you have in place at work.
I have a two-desk situation going on when Im working on a book.
The secondary desk is a glass map desk, and it is actually more critical to my writing routine.
I look at the map on the desk constantly to keep track of locations in my books.
Then I start shelving and organizing my research and putting it away.
But I dont clear my desk until my editor and I have finalized a draft.
When the map desk is completely clear, that means the novel is done.
I also have a little writing circle.
We jokingly call ourselves the Sisterhood of the Pen.
(Weve also tried out the name #blahblahplot).
I also love when that process is reversed and Im able to help with their work.
And of course, my family and friends cheer me up when Im in crisis mode.
They support me so strongly by attending all my events and helping spread the word about my books.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
I write in my agenda every day, and compulsively cross off completed tasks.
For the last three years, Ive basically been managing on a wing and a prayer.
If I dont commit myself absolutely, it will all fall apart.
How do you recharge or take a break?
I go home to Toronto, eat my mothers cooking and bask in my mothers love.
With more free time, I take a long trip with my husband.
And whenever weather permits, I take a nice long walk outdoors.
I also like to look at pictures and videos of other peoples pets because its very soothing.
Whats your favorite side project?
I make notes and lists of names, and I collect photographs and maps.
This is deeply enjoyable because I am a complete history nerd.
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
Im reading a fascinating biography calledMuhammadby the scholar Juan Cole.
In crime fiction,Brothers in Bloodby Amer Anwar was such an exciting debut.
Also in crime fiction, I will recommend any book by Deborah Crombie, Louise Penny or Peter May.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
My list is very long and yet not long enough!
Whats a problem youre still trying to solve?
Seriously: how to make more of an impact as a writer.
Specifically, how to get my mystery series on the radar as part of anti-racism curricula at universities.
