Dr Abeer Fahim has always been very passionate about academia. As young as eight years old, she had already decided that she wanted to teach when she grows up. As she got older, she became fascinated with universities and the work that professors do. She decided in high school that she would pursue an MA and PhD directly after completing her BA in English Literature, and that is exactly what she did. Abeer Fahim went to the UK to do her MA and PhD. She now has an MA and a PhD in American Literature from Durham University, England. Her thesis focused on technology and embodiment in the postmodern work of Don DeLillo and Thomas Pynchon. She has presented her work at conferences around the world- at Oxford University, Havard University, Dartmouth College and Durham University. She has also published her work on phenomenology in postmodern literature. Dr Abeer gave a TEDx Talk in 2017 titled “ Reading And The Narratives Of Life” where she talked about literature and empathy. Today we have her for an interview and we are beyond excited.
What is the formula for all the success you have achieved so far?
People usually talk a big deal about the formula for success but in my opinion, there is no crazy formula or some shocking top secret that will get you success. For me, it has always been a mixture of different things. Having definitive goals and plans, believing in them and yourself, putting your focus and devoting yourself to achieving them and never giving up in challenging times. People tend to put people who have achieved certain things on a pedestal but honestly, we are just like everyone else and the so call formula we have is what everyone already knows but is either too afraid or too lazy to implement. Do not be scared, you can achieve anything you set your mind on. Just fiercely go for it.
How did you manage to build a good social media presence as an author?
Well, first I would like to thank everyone who follows and contributes in any way on my social media channels. I appreciate each and every one of you. I think what has helped is trying to engage with the audience as much as possible. As an author, my job is not just to publish a book. My job is to touch people’s lives with my work and there are so many ways you can do that apart from publishing a book. On Instagram for instance, I have been doing lives that helped me have conversations with my readers and build a connection that’s hard to read through reading a book only. I also write them personalized poetry which they seem to absolutely love. On my Facebook page Juliet Turns Page, I share quotes from classic literature and my views through texts and videos then discuss them with my followers who are now over 147000. I think the key is building genuine connections with your readers by actually engaging with them like they are their own individuals and not just your supporters.
It was an absolute pleasure having an Interview with Dr Abeer Fahim, one of the best authors of our time.
FAMOUS AUTHOR ABEER FAHIM TALKS ABOUT HER ONLINE PROJECTS
Dr Abeer Fahim, famously known for her novels, poetry and academic work is one of the most inspiring women ever. She has gained tremendous fame and support through her work. She has gathered over 147000 Facebook followers on her page called Juliet Turn Page and over 31500 followers on her Instagram dr.abeerfahim . Her social media has always been engaging and empowering and it keeps us excited to see what’s coming next. We gave her a call to ask about her online projects and her plans for the future and here is what she had to say;
I believe that literature can be a powerful gateway to understanding ourselves and others. A literary piece can highlight the complexity of human nature and the ambiguity of our paths in life. In December 2015, I felt very strongly that it was time for me to use social media to help inspire women through literature. I started a Facebook page called “Juliet Turns the Page” which has over 147,000 followers. I began to share quotes from classic literature with my own thoughts on how these quotes could help enhance our everyday experiences. I made videos as well where I would share a quote and talk about how that quote can be used to help chart our paths in life. The theme “turning the page” has been an essential part of all my work. I don’t only talk about works of literature, I talk about how the very act of reading or writing a book can help us move forward in life. I talk about “narrative” and how connected narrative is to the nature of our own lives and I talk about how we can use literary techniques and devices (point-of-view, figurative language, characterization, etc.) to gain more insight into ourselves and our stories.
In 2017, after a trip to Bali, I wrote my first novel Her Seven Days in Bali. I am often asked by readers of my novel if the story is about me. I did not go through a divorce and the story isn’t based on my life. However, while in Bali, I dared myself to do one thing I was afraid of every day. In the book, the main character, Lara, goes to Bali for seven days after her divorce. Her marriage ends when her husband tells her that he is having an affair and is no longer in love with her. In Bali, as she tries to heal and let go, she dares herself to do one thing she is afraid of every day. This particular dare was something I did myself in Bali. The book is about learning to let go without necessarily getting the “closure” we so often hope to get.
What was particularly interesting about writing my book Her Seven Days in Bali was that I shared it with my followers as I wrote it. It was the most incredible experience! I had subscribers who would read each chapter as soon as I finished it. I would send them the chapter and it was truly amazing to get their feedback. I also shared quotes from the book on Facebook and had Facebook groups where we discussed themes related to the book. When I finished writing Her Seven Days in Bali (and even before making it available on Amazon), thousands of people had already heard about it, read all of it, or shared quotes from the book on their Facebook. I started to see quotes from my work pop up on peoples’ bios, profiles. On International Women’s Day, women’s organizations were quoting my work. And today, I find my work being shared on so many platforms. It is an honour to know that my work has resonated with so many women around the world.
I also write poetry and quotes. My Instagram @dr.abeerfahim is where I share my writing and do live videos as well. I have over 31, 500 followers and absolutely love reading their comments and messages. I have recently started writing personalized letters, quotes, and poetry for my followers. This has become a very popular part of what I do and it is truly a very beautiful experience to have this connection with my readers.