THE MAGAZINE IS THE REASON WHY I AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR TODAY
“Like many youngsters in the Middle East, who are in their twenties now, I grew up reading Young Times. I also grew up writing for it. When I moved to India, I did write for another magazine, but I would frequently and fondly remember YT,” shares Anuja
Siraj, 25. Such is Anuja’s fondness for the magazine, she’s thanked it in the author’s note of her first book, A Lifetime’s Worth. “Everyone who reads the note now realises how monumental it is to see Young Times in the present day. It is what developed my love for words,” says Anuja, whose first book is an anthology of short stories that includes a few pieces previously featured in YT.
With her work frequently being featured, Anuja quickly became a familiar name among her peers in the UAE. She went on to win ‘Teen of the Year’, a national title awarded by an India-based publication. “The most satisfying aspect of being a writer is knowing that I have an impact on my readers. I feel proud and humbled when people recognise me and talk about their connection with a character from my stories,” says Anuja. “Young Times is the reason I call myself an author. I’m grateful that my stories were published in this magazine. Since then, I’ve won literary competitions, had my work published in many mediums, and am now working on a novella.”
She leaves us with these inspiring words: “On the hardest days, remember that your story deserves to be heard. So, if you have a dream, don’t ever give up on it.”