Nillu Nasser's Blog, page 5

A Puppy Brings Mayhem aka Balance in Life

[image error]I’m sitting here in my kitchen, with my socked feet on cold tiles. We removed the rug because of our newest arrival. Outside, a lawnmower is running, although the grass is damp from autumn mists. The leaves are turning amber and burnt orange but our pup hasn’t discovered outside yet, apart from in my arms.

In a fortnight, his vaccinations will be complete and his immunity will be high enough for him to explore himself. His nose will turn to the strange scents and his tiny paws will race ahead...

In the Armchair: Daryl Rothman

As part of my In the Armchair series, I’d like to welcome Daryl Rothman to the blog. Shakes imaginary pompoms and does a back flip.

Daryl and I met during my early days on Twitter when we moved in the same writer circles. It must have been about 2012. He’s one of those wonderful internet acquaintances who I consider a friend. Fast forward seven years, and we are both part of the same publishing house.

Daryl’s debut novel had a rocky start when his first publisher went under. I’m so happy that...

Death Spiral

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What is Burnout and What is Just Life?

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Human Nature and the Tussle of Competition

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Finding Balance and Genre News

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Photo by Nick Kenrick

For a long time, I’ve been trying to find some balance in my writing life. A balance between finding enough time for my passion and stopping it bleeding into family time. A balance between creating words and reading them. A balance between consuming story-telling in books and story-telling on screens. A balance between my words being a dark and my words being hopeful. A balance between finding a niche and diversifying my portfolio.

The start of this year for me has been...

Writerly Introversion and the Power of Silence

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Photo by Nick Kenrick

Since leaving a nine to five job, I’ve grown more introverted. My extroversion, necessary for my previous job, was always a skill learned from being part of a big, boisterous family. Today, I prefer interactions in smaller groups. Large gatherings feed my curiosity about people but are ultimately draining.

In a world full of megaphones, where the intrusive call of social media and mobile phones can be overwhelming, there’s power in silence.

Silence is inherent to the pro...

Coming Out of Hibernation

[image error]I didn’t make a concrete plan at the beginning of this year. I knew I had a novel to write this year, perhaps two, but other than that, I thought I would just be. The political landscape has been so tough these past few years, so draining, that living in the moment sometimes seems like the perfect antidote. 

Swinging hands on long walks, on getting down on the floor to play with the children, going out for cake, singing at the top of our lungs, playing tennis outside on a winter’s day until o...

In 2019, Just Be

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Photo by Debasish Ghosh

It’s the start of a new year. We leave behind a year that many of us won’t miss, a year which seemed relentless with global news and human meanness. 

I realise now, there is a limit to our control. We can stand up for our beliefs, we can make art, and treat others with kindness and compassion, but we also have a duty to ourselves to reenergise and not let the weight of the world burden us too deeply. 

This year, when we press reset, I’ll turn to the light. I’ll remind...

Hidden Colours is Finally Here!

Today, there’s a bottle of red wine at the ready on my counter because I’m celebrating the launch of Hidden Colours, my book about an imaginary immigrant circus in Berlin.

Yusuf’s story is about compassion and grief, and how a little kindness can have a big impact.

What a whirlwind it has been writing this novel and putting it out into this world. After a few weeks of weight on my shoulders, I’m so glad and proud to see Hidden Colours leave the nest (or my desk!).

I couldn’t have done it with...