Northern Highlight

April 15, 2024

Nadine Aisha Jassat

Where are you based, and how would you sum up the place in three words?

I’m based in Edinburgh, Scotland. My three words would be: Chosen Home, Community.

What is special to you about working with children's books, and what is your favourite thing about it?

I first fell in love with books and reading as a child. Knowing that my books could be treasured by a young reader, and help them navigate the world – whether by exploring big issues, or simply being book-friends in paper form – is something I cherish.

My favourite part is when I’m so deep in writing a story that the characters and the world feel real and vibrant to me – and then, much later, to hear from readers that they felt the exact same thing!

Tell us about the most recent book you've worked on or come across in your job.

Published by Hachette UK, May 2024

My next novel, The Hidden Story of Estie Noor, comes out in May! Like The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) it’s a middle-grade verse mystery, this time set in a small, quirky community in Scotland. It follows Estie, sent to stay with her aunt after being expelled from school. There, she discovers that her aunt’s small town hides a big secret, one she and her new friend Idris have to uncover… It’s a novel about community, hope, the power of stories, and how to find the words to tell your own.

If you could be transported to anywhere in the North/Scotland right now, where would it be?

In 2022 I did a writer’s residency with Moniack Mhor, who took me to Stromness in Orkney for the first time. I’d love to wake up to an Orkney sunrise and a dip in the water!

What literary events have you attended or been involved with recently in the North/Scotland?

I’m currently the writer in residence for Prestonfield Primary School in Edinburgh, as part of the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature programme. In February, I was lucky enough to go on a schools and promo tour with Jonathan Ball in South Africa, celebrating The Stories Grandma Forgot.

Name your favourite children’s art organisation in the North/Scotland.

I absolutely love Seven Stories in Newcastle. It’s one of my happy places.

What advice would you give to aspiring publishing professionals living in the North and Scotland?

I treasure the writing communities I’m part of in Scotland, whether via organisations such as the Scottish Book Trust, or simply the writer friends and colleagues I’ve made along the way. I’d suggest investigating online and in-person communities in your area – for example New Writing North for the North of England – and also embracing joy in your writing, and fun. Writing can be a gift to yourself, and others – so let yourself enjoy it and revel in it and have the freedom to explore, rather than pressuring yourself to make it perfect. Remember: a first draft is just that, a first draft! Go in with an open mind, leaving expectations at the door, and it may surprise you.

What would you like to see from children's publishing in the North and Scotland?

I’d love to see ‘children’s’ books reviewed and read in the same way that ‘adult’s’ books are – as for me, they are for everyone! This could look like an increased presence of reviews in newspapers, children’s books included more actively in Scotland’s national book awards, and so much more! For insight into why this is important, I really enjoyed Katherine Rundell’s article ‘Why Adults Should Read Childrens’ Books’, published last year.

Who are your favourite Northern/Scottish children’s authors?

I love Sophie Anderson and Elle McNicoll – in fact, in continuation of my previous answer, if any adults are wanting to start reading middle grade fiction and don’t know where to start, I sincerely recommend The House With Chicken Legs – a novel which resonated deeply with me for its themes of grief – and A Kind of Spark, which is both a brilliant novel and now a brill TV series, too! I’m also incredibly grateful for the work of Maisie Chan – not only does she write great books, but she’s been an incredibly welcoming and supportive presence to me in the Scottish children’s lit sector.

What latest children’s/YA book from a Northern/Scottish creative you have enjoyed? OR What’s next on your TBR pile by a Northern/Scottish creative?

I’m just about to dive into Lisette Auton’s The Stickleback Catchers. I picked it up from a display in Drake The Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees last year, when on tour with The Stories Grandma Forgot, and the first lines completely grabbed me. They were full of poetry and story, and I knew I wasn’t leaving the shop without that book!