what Have I been Up to lately?

Dear Reader,

So due to my recent blogging break, you might want to ask "dear writer, what have you been up to this past week or so?" (If you don't want to ask this question then tough! I'm going to answer it anyway.) And to answer your very polite question I'm going to give you a sort-of-reverse-chronological list, i.e. latest item first.  

1) Recently, in the spirit of Ramadaan, I've started co-writing another blog called IslamBites - which basically explains this wonderful religion in bite-size chunks. You should definitely go check it out, then let me know what you think. Any suggestion? (There is also a link to it in the side bar somewhere --->)

2) Some time during this last week, Allah Subhana-Watallah has been incredibly gracious and showered me with inspiration. So I've been doing a lot of writing lately, working mainly on the sort-of-untitled BIG ONE. Now, I have no idea what the writing rate of professional novelists is but on Wednesday I wrote a total of 2,786 words and on Friday I got 1,372 done. I'm kind of proud of myself with that, considering the fact that the last time I was doing any serious writing was back in April. When I opened the word document at the beginning of this week, it told me that I had around about 18,000 words. Now, Alhumdulillah, I've got exactly 26,377 words, and that's not counting the stuff I have written in my note books - the stuff that I still have to go over and type up.  

3) I've also submitted some work to be published in The Guide to Nerdfighting (TGTN) and received positive replies. Subhanallah, all profits from TGTN will be going to a charity called Book Wish Foundation which provides books and education in developing countries. As soon as I find out, I'll let you know when and where it can be bought.

4) I've been listening to this man called Sami Yusuf. Maybe you've heard of him. I just can't seem to get enough of his Nasheeds and songs lately. Here is one that I've become quite addicted to, but it's not out yet so I can't listen to it 24/7 on my phone. (Hehehe - see I've learnt how to embed videos into my blog now, lucky readers.)

5) About exactly 10 days ago, I was incredibly busy redoing my CV and writing cover letters, with the help  of my most wonderfully-amazing friend, (who I think does not wish to be named). I'm applying for this dream job of mine and Inshallah, I'll let you know what happens.

6) In addition to all that, the most important thing that I've been doing lately is reading The Sealed Nectar: A Biography of the Prophet SAW.  Now, not to be blasphemous or anything, but this delightfully-glorious book is even better than The Lord of The Rings (which happens to be right at the top of my favourite books list). It has action, adventure, loss, love, intrigue, hardships, loyal friendships, betrayals and a million other things. And to think that all this actually happened in real life. (No wonder I've had a recent surging increase in Faith.) Because I have this beautiful blue-and-gold pocket-size version, I've been reading it every waking-non-busy-second of my life. And because of that, the book is an appalling state - the title is almost completely worn away. Here is a picture if you don't believe me. (Unfortunately you can't see the state of the pages.)

The pen has 2 purposes: 

a) to show you the size of it by comparison and b) to actually hold the dog-eared cover down.  

7) And to top it all off; I still have my summer job! where I will be working till the 10th of September. :-(

Anyway, so now you see that even though I'm suppose to be on holiday, I have been incredibly busy. But true to my word, Inshallah, I will try to blog more regularly from now on.

Until next time...

Nida