Meet Natasha Khan Kazi | Author and Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Khan Kazi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Sharing diverse stories with kids prepares them for our increasingly globalized world and nurtures empathy. And when Muslim children share their identity with their community, it positively impacts their self-esteem. This mutual understanding benefits all. I am giving kids, teachers, librarians, educators, and parents a resource to facilitate these conversations. Incorporating the traditions of minority groups is critical to having them feel seen, heard, and respected. And only through this mutual understanding can diverse communities genuinely understand each other.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I immigrated to the U.S. from Bangladesh when I was five and started school as an ESL student. The characters in my stories were so distant from my experience as a Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant, so I was always creating my own stories. But, I am the typical dutiful immigrant daughter. As a student, I loved the arts. But my parents did not support a career in the arts or English, as financial stability was so important for our family. So, my idea of risk was telling them I would study Business Science, not Computer Science. But, many years later, after becoming a mom, that dream bubbled back up.

In 2017, I left the corporate world. I was tired of having two identities: my work identity (seeking the approval of the dominant work culture) and my authentic identity (my unique values and beliefs). So I decided to become a full-time marketing consultant as I figured out my next steps. I started by launching IslamiMommy.com, a blog sharing the Islamic-inspired arts & crafts I made with my kids. In the process, I came across wonderful new picture books. And a thought occurred: What is stopping me from writing and illustrating my picture books? It had always been a dream of mine. My head said, “A lot is stopping you.” But my heart said, “Just take the next right step.” And the next right step was signing up for writing workshops.

The most important factor behind my success is not talent; it is grit. The mental toughness to persevere despite obstacles helped me get my story from an idea to the bookshelf. First, I had to become my biggest cheerleader. Because if you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else? I kept a log of every small win and read the list on bad days. And eventually, the small wins became bigger and bigger wins. After I added “signing a two-book deal with my publisher Versify,” an imprint of HarperCollins, to my list, I smiled because my first win listed was signing up for a writing workshop. I added a few other things to my list recently: getting a starred review from School Library Journal and being featured on Target’s first Ramadan & Eid Holiday Shop.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Los Angeles area has so many vibrant neighborhoods. A beach lover could spend days driving from Malibu down to San Diego, making stops at Santa Monica Pier, exploring the coves in Terranea, and visiting the aquarium in Long Beach. For those intrigued by Hollywood, L.A. offers studio tours, live shows, and Hollywood history around every corner. Finally, foodies could eat their way through L.A. and not have one bad meal. A perfect week in L.A. would be a combination of all of the above, beach days, catching a few shows, and exploring L.A.’s global menu.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am without the support, mentorship, and encouragement of my community. I am blessed to be a Highlights Foundation Muslim Storyteller Fellow, and belong to author support groups such as KidLit in Color and PB Spree. But for me, the foundation for success starts at home, so I need to shout out to my kids and husband. Even when I was drowning in mom guilt, they always told me to follow my dream and do what I needed to do.

Website: www.natashakhankazi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashakhankazi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NatashaKhanKazi

Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/natashakhankazi/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@natashakhankazi

Image Credits
Kaysha Weiner Branding