This summer, we’re handing the blog to our mentees so they can introduce themselves and their writing. Read on and find out more about the person who could be your next favourite writer!
Hi, I’m Munira Jannath. I’m from a little estate in Hackney, my home for 20+ years. I work in education and will complete my teacher training next year. I have always worked in schools in boroughs that reflect the demographics I “belong to” in one way or the other and that’s where my love for stories and need for storytelling grew.
Growing up I felt stories weren’t written about people like me, a British Bangladeshi Muslim girl, who had a flair for adventure and troublemaking, wanting to study my way out of poverty while facing the kinds the problems most kids in children’s books faced. I still can’t swim and can barely ride a bike but I graduated at least!
My story is about 10 year old Rubi, a Muslim Bengali girl, who is trying to reclaim her family after her home life turns on its head.
I feel some what fortunate to start writing a middle grade novel now and not when the idea for my first story came to me years ago. In the past four years I have seen covers that reflect and represent characters I dreamt of getting to know since when I was old enough to read… Hurrah! I have also found my own reasons to write and to keep writing (Yay!). That’s where my journey with Megaphone started!
My story is about 10 year old Rubi, a Muslim Bengali girl, who is trying to reclaim her family after her home life turns on its head. Mum has depression, dad has turned part time after getting a full time job, Nanu is getting older and her kind of perfect sister gets all the attention! Rubi and her cat side-kick Winnie find themselves in lots of adventures and trouble trying to make everything better!
Megaphone understands the need to support marginalised writers but also understands what it means to be one too.
I am excited to work with Megaphone! Having the opportunity to work through the internal and externals problems I face writing Rubi with an experienced and empathetic mentor is invaluable! Megaphone understands the need to support marginalised writers but also understands what it means to be one too. So far, I have had support with structuring, planning and getting the words written for my first draft. I can’t wait to have a complete story by the end!