Before Bookbow became Bookbow, it started with a girl and a question: what do you see yourself doing in the future? The answer was simple – something to do with books.

Hello, and peace unto you! My name is Sajida, and Bookbow is the latest expression of my life’s work in all things related to publishing. I started out many years ago, as we mostly do, reading and critiquing the essays of friends and family. Over time, I found that I enjoyed it. Whenever I noticed something worth commenting on or correcting, I’d get that feeling you get when you find Wally or Spot the Difference. But the best feeling comes after all of the hard work; when you read the polished document, see how much improved it has become, and return it to the grateful and satisfied writer who trusted you with it in the first place.

This, I believe, is the spirit of Bookbow; to return what has been entrusted in top form.

In Islam, the concept of Ihsan relates to achieving excellence in one’s devotion to God. It is this same concept which inspires me to aim for excellence in everything I do. The saying, ‘what’s worth doing is worth doing well’, comes from a longer quote which reads, ‘In truth, whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well; and nothing can be done well without attention.’ I keep this in mind when working.

I have a BA in Abrahamic Religions (an in-depth study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), an MA in Creative Writing, and I have completed the Essential Proofreading Course with the Publishing Training Centre (PTC). I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

Offering publishing services is just one of the building blocks of my life; others are my family (I have a husband and two daughters, and of the 11 children my parents nurtured, I am number 8!), my faith (Islam has shaped and defined the person that I am), and my interests (I love reading, writing, basketball, anime, tinkering with musical instruments, and a good cuppa).

I look forward to hearing from you 🙂