Life After Publishing: Saira Anwar’s Journey with Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope
- PartnershipPublishing
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Since the release of my long-awaited second poetry collection, Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope, on 27th June 2025, the journey has been nothing short of transformative. What began as a deeply personal exploration of resilience, healing, and self-discovery has blossomed into a movement that continues to reach hearts across the world.
On 27th July, I had the privilege of being featured on All FM radio with Ruth O’Reilly, where I shared my story and the inspiration behind my work.
Two days later, on 29th July, I was interviewed on Gillian’s podcast, where we discussed my journey as a poet, my new book, and the healing power of words.
On 2nd August, I performed at the Khushi Festival 2025 (Mushaira Open Mic), celebrating South Asian voices through poetry and community.
On 6th August, just over a month after publication, Rising From Despair was honoured with The Strange Inc. Book Award 2025 in the Poetry category. This recognition affirmed the power of poetry to transform pain into hope and gave my book an international mark of distinction.
On 13th September, I am delighted to appear at Peter Topping’s book launch, connecting with readers and fellow writers through live poetry.
I am now preparing to perform at the Muslim Northern Women’s Grand Annual Open Mic Night hosted by The Qahwa Collective at Manchester Central Library (16th September). This platform will allow me to amplify Muslim women’s voices and share my poems with a vibrant, supportive community.
Beyond events and awards, the book has travelled widely, reaching readers in the UK, USA, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
Through the 'Gift A Copy Forward' initiative, generous readers purchased extra copies to be donated to survivors. These books were gifted to Karma Nirvana, ensuring that stories of healing reached those who need them most.
I also launched a Substack newsletter on 27th December 2024, offering readers a weekly space for poetry, reflection, and growth every Friday. This community has quickly become an extension of my mission: to help others heal through words.
The past few months have been humbling, exciting, and affirming. Rising From Despair has already opened doors I never imagined, and I am deeply grateful to every reader, supporter, and organisation who has helped carry this message further than I could alone. This is only the beginning of the journey.
I’m excited about the opportunities still to come, including new performances, workshops, and the possibility of a third book to continue this journey.
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