The writer who loves animals

Sonya Rehman, a Pakistan-based art and culture journalist and author of Wolfie, talks to BOLD this week.

Sonya Rehman, a Pakistan-based art and culture journalist and author, is known for her debut fiction book for children, Wolfie, which is based on the story of a dog. A Fulbright scholar with an MS in Print Journalism from Columbia University, Sonya Rehman started her writing career in 2021 with a non-fiction book, “Embroidering Dreams – 50 Years of Empowering Women and Preserving the Craft of Needlework.” She is the founder of a postcard company and culture platform, “From Lahore with Love,”, and has also launched her own jewellery line. A die-hard animal lover, she has five rescue dogs of her own.

In an exclusive interview with BOLD, Sonya Rehman talks about her writing journey and the associated details led her to an instant fame.

BOLD: Ever since its release, your book Wolfie has received a number of positive reviews and feedback. Could you tell our readers a bit about the story and its characters?

Sonya Rehman: Wolfie revolves about a little dog who has trouble believing in himself. He’s an endearing little character who is propelled into a journey of a lifetime, and it’s on this very adventure that Wolfie discovers that he’s far braver than he thought himself to be. The book is more than just a story about animals…through it I hope to foster animal empathy and self-belief (topics that I’m incredibly passionate about) in children.

What prompted you to write a book with an animal at its centre?

Throughout my childhood and adulthood, I’ve grown up with dogs. My most beloved pet dog, Bruce (who died in 2020 when he was 14-years-old) played a huge role in my life. He was the glue who held my family together. He was sweet, intuitive and incredibly smart. Bruce left an undeniable mark in my life…he made me a better, stronger person. He was my furry sage, my best friend. My main motivation to write Wolfie was to create a small ripple in the dismal state of animal rights in Pakistan. Even if I can change a handful of minds to treat animals (particularly strays) with kindness through Wolfie, my job on this planet is done.

You are one of the Pakistani authors to delve into children’s literature in English. Would you say writing a children’s book has been a relatively difficult process?

Writing for children comes with a softness and a sensitivity that is initially hard to revive as an adult. This is because as adults, we forget to view the world with awe and an innocent enthusiasm, we forget that our lives can be magical and beautiful. So it was a bit of an unlearning process in the beginning. But once I got started, it flowed very naturally. I felt light, happy and hopeful while writing Wolfie. And funnily enough, I began believing in myself more – just like Wolfie – when I completed the first manuscript.

What prompted you to write a children’s book rather than a book for an older audience?

I wrote a non-fiction book for adults which was published in 2021. The book, ‘Embroidering Dreams – 50 Years of Empowering Women and Preserving the Craft of Needlework’ took me almost two years to complete. After the book was published, I wanted to write something for a younger audience to bring me back into a simpler, softer headspace.

Please tell us a bit about the writing journey. How long did it take you to complete the manuscript?

Even though it’s a little over 60 pages, it took me a year. Afterwards, the edits for the second manuscript took about two months.

What is your writing routine like? Do you have a set of rules that you need to follow such as a certain schedule or a designated place that you work at?

I have no routine. I’m very spontaneous. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and begin writing on my laptop, in the middle of the day, or during a heavy week full of chores and projects. I’ve tried very hard to make a routine for myself, but my process is very feral and random. I can’t write when I eat poorly though, if I eat junk food I just can’t get myself to write. So when I have to write, an article or a book, I’ll eat clean. If I stuff on pizza, I’m flat out and cannot bring myself to write for at least 48 hours!

What do you do to beat writer’s block?

A heart to heart talk with my family or a close friend does the trick for me. I only experience writer’s block when I feel emotionally blocked, when my heart feels heavy. A conversation with someone I love helps me unravel my mind and from thereon it’s just this frenzied writing sprint! Good music helps too.

You penned Wolfie down during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time where most people found it hard to function optimally. How did Covid-19 impact your routine as a writer?

It was terrible. But I was journaling and meditating a lot during the lockdown. That made it easier but it wasn’t the best time to be creative, I’ll admit. Then during the editing phase in 2022, I contracted Covid. I was flat out for days. I lost my sense of smell and taste for a few weeks and struggled with depression during my illness. I just wanted to give up on everything. I was done.

How has your publishing journey been? Being a Pakistani author, was it relatively easy to get published?

It isn’t easy getting published, period. But I was lucky because one of my peers and mentors, Mehr F. Husain, agreed to publish Wolfie through her local publishing platform, ZUKA Books. If it wasn’t for Mehr’s encouragement as a friend and support as an editor/publisher, I would’ve never had the courage to get Wolfie published. I had no fight left in me.

Most writers in Pakistan find publishing to be a daunting process, especially considering the lack of representation when it comes to literary agents and publishers. How has your experience been?

Incredible. Easy from the get-go. I’ve felt like my editor/publisher has my back and always wants the best for me. What more can a writer want? When you write a book, you have a little piece of yourself out in the world. It’s very daunting. But working with the publisher has made me feel supported and safe.

Which authors would you say have inspired you the most and why?

Harper Lee, Wally Lamb, Arundhati Roy, Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter, and so many others who gave me a curious sensitivity about the way of the world, a belief in magic, the good in the world, a sense of justice for the overlooked underdog and a belief that the pen is a very powerful weapon if used for a good cause. Always for good.

What was your favourite book growing up as a child?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton!

Can we expect a sequel for Wolfie?

Yes, I’m mulling over it!

What’s next for you?

I have at least two more books for children cooking in 2023.