This story was originally published by ArtsATL.
New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed writes books for children. All kinds of children. As a founding member of the nonprofit organization We Need Diverse Books, Saeed takes seriously the representation of children from all backgrounds. Her own books have been heralded by critics and educators alike. She is the author of the middle grade novel “Amal Unbound” (Penguin, 2018) and the picture book “Bilal Cooks Daal” (Simon and Schuster, 2019; illustrated by Anoosha Syed). Saeed’s debut novel for adults “The Matchmaker” — a mystery about an Atlanta society matchmaker in danger — is available for preorder now.
As part of an effort to help readers get to know members of Atlanta’s arts community better, we asked the author to share 11 good things on her mind. Here, in no particular order, is her list of 11:
1. Atlanta’s once-in-a-childhood snowstorm of 2025. Sure we were homebound. Sure we lost power. Sure we learned the art of bundling up and maximizing heat (congregate in the smallest room with the least windows under loads of blankets). But … our boots sank into fresh fallen snow as we made snowmen, had snowball fights and sledded down the driveway.
2. The mountains. While you can’t beat the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, living in the sprawling metropolis that is Atlanta, we have the benefit of being a car ride away from the Smokies. As the beautiful city of Asheville and surrounding areas recover, I’m excited for my annual trek to the land of songbirds and rolling hills.
3. Trees. I’ve trekked the country in pursuit of my tree appreciation, from millennia-old spruce to the mighty redwoods to the old growth forests right here in Atlanta.
4. Buford Highway. One of the greatest pleasures of living in Atlanta is the wealth of wonderful food we have. From delicious pho to stone bowls simmering with fresh bulgogi to hand-cut ramen, the eats along Buford Highway are an Atlanta treasure.
5. Independent bookstores. There’s nothing like stepping into a carefully curated bookshop. Each with its own personality and shelf-talkers, indie bookstores are where it’s at, and Atlanta is blessed with many great ones: Little Shop of Stories, Posman Books, Charis and many more.
6. Direct flights. Say what you will about Atlanta’s airport (the chaos of the plane train, the rideshare pickup located eons away), I have been properly spoiled by the plethora of direct flights to nearly everywhere I need to be. As a writer who travels to festivals and speaking engagements, it is something I never take for granted.
7. A pile of blank notebooks. It is a truth universally acknowledged that every writer in possession of a good notebook must covet many more.
8. A properly brewed cup of chai. While I am a devotee of caffeine in all its forms, there’s nothing like steeping a proper cup of loose-leaf tea simmering with cinnamon, cloves and cardamom before sitting down to write.
9. Cats. Goes without saying. My cat is a writer’s cat; she keeps me on task by sitting on my lap as soon as I’m at my desk, ensuring I will not move and will in fact write.
10. Playlists. I hearken from a time before online streaming music, when one might listen faithfully by a radio for a favorite song to at last play, when CDs — yes CDs! — were a thing. There was a charm to that time, but I do love the ease of curating a playlist online. I have one for each book I write that I listen to while doing dishes and running errands to keep me in the vibes of the world I’m creating.
11. Koala bears. Because, of course.
Credit: ArtsATL
Credit: ArtsATL
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ArtsATL (artsatl.org) is a nonprofit organization that plays a critical role in educating and informing audiences about metro Atlanta’s arts and culture. ArtsATL, founded in 2009, helps build a sustainable arts community contributing to the economic and cultural health of the city.
If you have any questions about this partnership or others, please contact Senior Manager of Partnerships Nicole Williams at nicole.williams@ajc.com.
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