Local doctor to launch second book, profits to go towards helping cancer victims |25 October 2019

Dr Salma Farook, author of ‘The Octopus Curse’

• “Profits from my first book have already raised over R70,000 for cancer victims”

On November 1 this year, Dr Salma Farook, a medical officer at the Seychelles Hospital, will officially release her second book entitled ‘The Octopus Curse’, with profits to be donated to helping cancer victims.

The book will be sold at various local outlets as from November and follows the success of Dr Farook’s first book entitled ‘What Your Soul Already Knows’.

In the following exclusive interview with SeychellesNATION and ahead of the official release of the book, Dr Farook reveals what the book is about, what inspired her to write it, and about donating its profits to helping cancer victims.

Seychelles NATION: Tell us some background information and what inspired you to write the book?

Dr Salma Farook: People have started asking now, are you going to quit and become a full-time writer? The answer is a resounding no. Medicine is my passion, and I really love what I do. Writing is what keeps me balanced and helps me make sense of the world around me. I will always be both.

‘The Octopus Curse’, my second book, is a collection of poetry about love, heartbreak, resilience, self-love, travel and femininity.

I started writing poetry from a young age and some pieces from the book are a decade old. I never intended to share any of them; they were so personal, the most vulnerable parts of me.

With encouragement from my friends, I initially started sharing them on Instagram (@salma.farook) and loved that people from all over the world reacted so positively. I now have over five thousand followers.

I realised that words have power. We are all more similar than we are different. We may come from different racial backgrounds, speak different languages, and dress in different ways, but in essence, the human experience is so beautifully the same. We all fall in love the same way, cry and laugh in the same universal tongue. I hope my words go out and make some positive changes in the world.

Anyone who enjoys poetry would enjoy it. It’s more ‘instapoetry’ or modern poetry rather than classical, so even if you’re picking up poetry for the first time, it’s easy to read and understand. 

It’s a hardcover, 210 pages long, a collectible edition and an absolutely perfect gift for your mother or significant other; many of the pieces celebrate motherhood and women in general.

SeychellesNATION: What motivated you to donate the profits from this book?

Dr Salma Farook: I’m so excited to say that profit from my second book will also go towards helping cancer victims. I’m working with Soroptimist this time.

Profits from my first book, ‘What Your Soul Already Knows’, have already raised over seventy thousand rupees for cancer victims, with the help of the Cancer Concern Association, and I hope my work can raise a hundred thousand before the year is over.

I’m so happy to say that acts like this are not at all uncommon in Seychelles. We are a nation of big-hearted people and it’s so obvious, especially in October, Cancer Awareness Month.

So many activities are being organised to raise awareness and money for those who need it; for example the upcoming Women’s Healthathon by Soroptimist and Doctors4Doctors Seychelles, and the numerous activities by the Cancer Concern Association.

It isn’t only these bodies though; I’ve seen many individuals contribute such powerfully selfless acts, and it’s something that makes me very proud of our little nation. I want everyone to remember that you can make a difference, no matter what you do or where you are.

Seychelles NATION: When will the book be released and where will members of the public be able to buy it?

Dr Salma Farook: The book is being released on November 1 and is currently available for pre-order. From November 1 you will be able to buy it from Touch Electronix, Adam Moosa Building, Fouhan Data Systems, Mont Fleuri and hopefully, all bookshops. You can also find more information and updates on my website (www.salmafarook.com).

I welcome aspiring young writers and readers who have enjoyed my work to contact me on writer@salmafarook.com. I would love to hear from you and guide you through publishing your own book! Be brave, it’s worth it! Don’t just stand at the edge, jump! Soak in the adrenaline.

To pre-order a book, call 2 829 434.

Photo Sources: Dr Salma Farook