Amber Zaman

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

MY LOCKDOWN POEMS

Amber Zaman

Meet Amber Zaman - from Huddersfield,

United Kingdom who has been writing poems and illustrating in collaboration with Ursula Hurst for her first children’s poetry book during lockdown.

As a global pandemic, Covid-19 affected the lives of millions of people across the world. An 8-year-old decided to do something positive with her creative writing, drawings and positive words. Words to encourage positive mental health and well-being amongst us all, no matter what colour or faith.

My Lockdown Poems gives a child’s eye view from Amber Zaman of what happened in the UK, captured in eleven beautifully illustrated poems in collaboration with acclaimed Illustrator Ursula Hurst, from closed schools, to fun on Zoom, a shortage of hand sanitiser and the hope of rainbows, enjoy a unique perspective on the main event of 2020.

Amber states “I wanted to write, draw and work in collaboration with an illustrator and editor Rebecca Thomas to show how I felt being in the current pandemic and I wanted to show off south Asian characters that south Asian readers can relate and identify with, in my book. This was the reason why I drew myself on the front cover wearing a mask, I thought it was important I showed brown faces as well black and white characters in my book as this is our future and we are in this pandemic together no matter what colour, age or disability. It is very important for children to see different characters being represented in books, characters that look like you and me.”

Amber began writing her poetry book during the first lockdown and would spend many hours trying out different ways to make sense and rhyme her poetry. She was lucky enough to have her work recognised by Poems and Pictures Limited company who are now Ambers publishers. One of Amber’s poems ‘School’ has been featured in the book my #LockdownLife which is a book where children and teachers have had their poems published, complied together by Christina Gabbitas who is a charity founder and director of Children’s Literature Festivals. All proceeds from #LockdownLife will go to the charity CLFestivals.

Ambers book has been acknowledged by royalty, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton and the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Both the Duchess and the Prime Minister have sent their best wishes and have congratulated Amber on her success and are pleased to receive a gifted copy of her book.

Amber’s wonderful publishers have nominated her for the Peoples Book Prize Award and she has been interviewed by both local and national radio stations reaching international audiences. Amber has been busy signing many books for her family, friends and communities and she hopes her book will encourage other children to write and Ambers messages is simple “remember you don’t have to be an adult to write.”

My Lockdown Poems is available on Amazon and for any other enquires please email on info@salmasbollywoodacademy.com.

29 | eYs Magazine, Autumn 2021