Home – Àla Books & Authors

The Night In Her Hair

With nine stories and nine original illustrations, The Night In Her Hair offers a unique mother-daughter collaboration retelling our ancient folk romances with a personal and modern relevance. The freedom to love, and the freedom to live.

Buy here:

Reviews

Huma Agha Abbas

Co-author of The Night In Her Hair

Taiba Abbas

Founder & Director

Upcoming Books

Nwa Rizvi

Author of Red Drapes and Other Stories

Ramsha Afaq

Art Director

Jahanzeb Haroon

Visual Artist

Follow Àla on Instagram

Posted @withregram • @els.ies.pu We at “Dialogues on Literature and Creative Writing Fiction” are delighted to have Taiba Abbas as our guest speaker for a talk on Fiction writing.
She is a writer, teacher, and the founder of the publishing house, Àla Books and Authors.
If you want to improve your FICTION writing skills then sign up for the workshop session to listen to Taiba Abbas' expert advice.
Email a prose piece at englishliterarysociety.els@gmail.com by the 10th of March.
The selected participants will be notified via email for registration fee.
So don't let go of this chance to learn from the writing maestro.
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#writers #books #authors #writing #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #writersofpakistan #lahore

Today at the Pakistan Literature Festival @acpkhiplf Hope to see you there!
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#writer #book #author #publishing #folklore #fiction #literature #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #booklove

An afternoon spent rotating these shelves at @readings.pk where a fresh new batch of #TheNightInHerHair has just arrived 💚
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#writer #book #author #alabooksandauthors #publisher #booksbooksbooks #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #readers #lahore #bookstagram #bookstagrampak

In @thenewspak on Sunday. @biba.t.abbas
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#writers #books #authors #writing #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookstagrampak #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booklove #booksbooksbooks

And more 📷💚 from Faraz Ahmed and @t.maya.kanwal
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#TheNightInHerHair #writers #authors #books #writing #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #author #publisher #bibliophile #pakistaniauthors #pakistaniliterature

Loving these pics sent in by friends and readers 💚 @t.maya.kanwal

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#TheNightInHerHair #writers #books #authors #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writer #editor #writerslife #booklove

Loving these pics sent in by friends and readers 💚 @affantaj

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#TheNightInHerHair #writers #books #authors #bookstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #bookstagrampak #writing #writersofinstagram #writersofig #writersofpakistan

Eternally, eternally grateful for the immeasurable gift that this year brought me in the shape of this book. And so grateful to all its readers, for the love and home that The Night In Her Hair found in all of you.

#Repost @biba.t.abbas
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#writing #publishing #books #writers #writerslife #booksbooksbooks #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #readers #readersofinstagram #reader #bookstagram #bookish #stories #retelling #folklore #southasia #literature

@sarashraf reviews The Night In Her Hair in @thenewspak today. Thank you for the warm, encouraging appreciation!
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#writer #writers #books #authors #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #TheNightInHerHair #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas

More clips of us talking about The Night In Her Hair with the MPhil faculty and students at Kinnaird @kclcd

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#writers #books #authors #writing #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersofinstagram #writersofpakistan #art #artist #TheNightInHerHair #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas

Some glimpses from a warm and engaging session with the MPhil faculty and students at Kinnaird @kclcd
#TheNightInHerHair #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas
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#writers #writing #books #authors #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #teaching #art #publishing

Reposted from @thealephreview
Introducing our final digital guest editor for the year, Taiba Abbas, who will be curating our website for November.

Taiba (@biba.t.abbas) is a writer, teacher, and the founder of the publishing house Àla Books and Authors (@alabooksandauthors). Born in Pakistan, she grew up in Italy, and holds a Master's degree in comparative literature from SOAS, University of London. She is the co-author of The Night In Her Hair – a modernised retelling of selected folk romances from the subcontinent. Her teaching career spans several years, having taught courses in Italian, English literature, film, and cultural studies at universities and schools in Lahore and Islamabad. She is currently working on her first novel.

Head to our website for more on her theme for the month, Personal Myths.

#thealephreview #alephreview #taibaabbas #guesteditor

"The Night In Her Hair is the kind of work that offers something to everyone. Containing whirlwind romance, transportive imagery, and plenty of food for thought, a well-crafted collection of retold Pakistani folk tales deserves a place on all bookshelves." @mushbagram reviews The Night In Her Hair in Dawn's Books & Authors.

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#TheNightInHerHair #writer #books #writing #publishing #authors #alabooksandauthors #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan

No Man's Language. A clip from a talk at the @lahorelitfest earlier this year, where I was in conversation with @dr.osamasiddique and @micromaf on Urdu classics in translation. The full video's now up on YouTube.

Reposted from @biba.t.abbas

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#writer #writers #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #books #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #classics #authors #translation

Looking forward to being at Kinnaird @kclcd this week! #TheNightInHerHair

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#writers #authors #books #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writingcommunity #teaching #writerscommunity #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors

The Night In Her Hair finding a fitting home at the @lahoreheritage

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#writer #writers #books #authors #writing #lahore #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #folklore #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #heritage

Happening tomorrow! Join us at this wonderful event by The Lahore Heritage Club. Visit their page @lahoreheritage for more details and registration links.

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#writingcommunity #writers #books #authors #stories #writing #bookstagram #writerscommunity #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan #booklove #pakistaniauthors #bibliophile

"The Night In Her Hair is the next step in ensuring that Gen Z is not devoid of these classics. The Night In Her Hair is a must-read for all millennials, not just because the way the stories are told transport you in a world where it feels as if you're living it, but also because it is our duty to know these stories and ensure that our folklore, music, verse, history, and culture is not lost." Enjoyed reading this review by the bright young people at @propergaanda

Buy your copy of The Night In Her Hair now. Link in bio

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#TheNightInHerHair #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas #writer #writers #books #authors #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors

#TheNightInHerHair #Heer
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#excerpt #writer #book #author #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas #alabooksandauthors #alabooks #love #music #retelling #publishing #publisher #art #artist #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors

Reposted from @libertybooks
The Night In Her Hair is a unique mother-daughter collaboration that retells our ancient folk romances with a personal and modern relevance, through nine stories and beautiful illustrations. The freedom to love and the freedom to live.

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#writers #publishers #books #bookstagrampak #bibliophile #booklove #booksbooksbooks #libertybooks #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas #TheNightInHerHair #love #romance #folklore

Something exciting happening this November. I'm delighted to be the digital guest editor for The Aleph Review website, with a theme that is so close to my heart – and one that will be made even more special with everything that You send in. Write to me!

Reposted from @biba.t.abbas

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#thealephreview #author #writer #books #poetry #fiction #art #artist #writersofinstagram #readers #reading

Continuing through the month of October, all proceeds from our sales will be going towards Flood Relief efforts across the country.

We thank everyone who joined us in raising funds this past month.

The effort goes on. Every contribution counts.

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#FloodRelief #Pakistan #writingcommunity #writers #books #authors #writerscommunity #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #alabooksandauthors

Reposted from @libertybooks With nine stories and nine original illustrations, The Night In Her Hair offers a unique mother-daughter collaboration retelling our ancient folk romances with a personal and modern relevance. The freedom to love, and the freedom to live.

Reimagined with an intimacy and immediacy that draws them out into the present, The Night In Her Hair revisits characters that lived and loved, transcending the very limits of their worlds and their times.

Adapted anew, bridging the realm of magic and shapeshifters and the world of men and women, these are stories of passion and fulfilment going beyond mortal confines to become part of the soul, a desire and surrender complete in one moment of ascension.

They are timeless stories that continue to speak to us, finding a compelling place in our lives today – there is Ranjha's music, and Mahiwal's quest; there is Marvi's thirst for the golden sands of the Thar; there's Umar's acceptance and Punhun's submission; Himal's transcendence in the haunting snake forests of Nagrai in Kashmir; the invincible unflinching resolve of Mirza and Adam Khan; the fearless courage of Sohni, Sassi, Heer, Dur Khanai, and Sahiban. And much more.

Shop Now: Link In Bio

#TheNightInHerHair #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas #Bookish #BookWorm #BookNerd #Bookaholic #Fiction #ContemporarayFiction #libertybooks #Booktok #bookstagram #bookstagrampak
@biba.t.abbas

When a bookstore feels like you're in your own home, enjoying the company of everyone around you, you know you're in the right place. A glimpse from our Interactive Session at @thelastwordbks.

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#writers #writing #books #authors #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #alabooksandauthors #thelastwordbks

📷 💚

Reposted from @mushbagram New read! 👀
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THE NIGHT IN HER HAIR is a collection of traditional romantic folk tales from all over Pakistan, adapted a new. Looking forward to reading this. Review coming soon!
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Tags 🏷️
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#bookstagram #alabooks #translation #flatlay #adaptation #mushbareads #newread #bookphotography #lookdown #origami #cozybutdesi #cozyvibes

Always thrilling to see beautiful photos taken by our readers 💖

Reposted from @alzcatraz_book_reviews Adapted anew, these are stories of passion and fulfilment, going beyond mortal confines to become part of the soul, a desire and surrender complete in one moment of ascension.

There is Ranjha’s music and Mahiwal’s quest; there are the fated songs of Habba Khatoon; there is Umar’s acceptance and Punhun’s submission; the unerring, unflinching resolve of Mirza and Adam Khan; the searing courage of Sohni, Sassi, Heer, Himal, Dur Khanai, and Sahiban, each woman braving all dangers, defying the ends of her mortality, in a quest for an eternal truth, and whatever the physical and earthly symbols, it becomes a search for something that is nobler and more compelling than life itself.

These are names we’ve always been familiar with in music, verse, and history – names we’ve nearly forgotten and relegated to an ancient past – without realizing their relentless power and timeless significance in our lives today.

Down the northern belt of the mountains, through the fields and rivers of Punjab, to the warm coast of the Arabian Sea – The Night In Her Hair bears witness to lives that became the most extraordinary legacy of spiritual and literary traditions of Sufi thought – lives that continue to shape our creative expression as indelible motifs woven deep inside our cultural psyche and identity.

#TheNightInHerHair #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas #alzcatrazbookreviews #folklore #folktale #folkliterature #lovestory #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #bookmark #booknerd #bookish #bookgeek #bookaddict #bookaholic #books #goodreads #instabooks #thelastwordbks #Pakistan #readingpakistan

Thank you @thelastwordbks! for a memorable evening, with friends, writers, readers, sharing their warm and vibrant stories.

Only a few more copies of #TheNightInHerHair remaining at the bookstore. Grab yours today!

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#writers #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #bookstagrampak #literature #stories #fiction #books #bibliophile #booklove #bookstagram #thelastwordbks

Now available at @thelastwordbks. Visit the bookshop and get your copy today. And join us there this Friday 23 September from 5–7pm!

About the book:

From the shadowed world of Kash Kash Jinn amid the snowbound peaks of the Himalayas, and the haunting snake forests of Nagrai in Kashmir, to Marvi's thirst for the golden sands of the Thar – The Night In Her Hair is a fictional retelling of legends and folktales. The stories move through place and time, bridging the realm of magic and shapeshifters and the world of men and women.

Reimagined with an intimacy and immediacy that draws them out into the present, The Night In Her Hair revisits characters that lived and loved, transcending the very limits of their worlds and their times. Adapted anew, these are stories of passion and fulfilment, going beyond mortal confines to become part of the soul, a desire and surrender complete in one moment of ascension.

There is Ranjha's music, and Mahiwal's quest; there are the fated songs of Habba Khatoon; there is Umar's acceptance, and Punhun's submission; the unerring unflinching resolve of Mirza and Adam Khan; the searing courage of Sohni, Sassi, Heer, Himal, Dur Khanai, and Sahiban, each woman braving all dangers, defying the ends of her mortality, in a quest for an eternal truth, and whatever the physical and earthly symbols, it becomes a search for something that is nobler and more compelling than life itself. These are names we've always been familiar with in music, verse, and history – names we've nearly forgotten and relegated to an ancient past, without realizing their relentless power and timeless significance in our lives today.

More on our website alabooksandauthors.com (link in bio).

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#books #TheNightInHerHair #thelastwordbks #bookstagram #writers #authors #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #alabooksandauthors #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas

Also happening this week in Lahore, a stand-up special by our upcoming 'absurd poet' Jawad Raza at @olomopolo!

#Repost @olomopolo

⭐ Get ready to laugh 😂 think 🤔 and imagine with Apocalypse..... Later by Jawad Raza | @jrsharaf & @theabsurdpoet

SURVIVING THE GRIND, ONE ABSURD OBSERVATION AT A TIME

A stand-up special, sprinkled with a dose of slam-poetry and flash fiction. If you like things in general, you are sure to like this one random thing too.

Disclaimer: Explicit humour to be expected and accepted.

23 September 2022
8:30 PM
The OLO Junction | 43-A, Block D, New Muslim Town
PKR 1,500/- | Also available at @ticketwalapk

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#writer #writers #books #authors #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan #comedy #pakistaniauthors #poetry #slampoetry #flashfiction

If you're in Lahore next Friday do come and spend the evening with us at @thelastwordbks!

#Repost @thelastwordbks

EVENT: INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH ÀLA BOOKS

Join us for an interactive session with Àla Books and the co-authors of The Night In Her Hair:

* Meet the authors, get your book signed
* Share your questions, and get to know all about this mother-daughter collaboration, and what goes into a modern retelling of our ancient and most loved folklore
* If you want a personal and in-depth insight into the making of a book, from concept to editing to design and production, here's your chance!

DATE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2022
TIME: 5–7PM

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#writer #author #publisher #publishing #alabooksandauthors #TheNightInHerHair #booklove #bibliophile #art #artist #literature #booksbooksbooks #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas

Read an exclusive excerpt from Himal Nagrai and buy your copy of The Night In Her Hair at alabooksandauthors.com (link in bio).

Throughout this month, all proceeds from our sales will be going towards Flood Relief efforts across the country. We thank everyone who made their contribution this past week. All funds raised so far have been sent to @edhi.foundation's Flood Relief campaign.

Every contribution counts.

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#writers #books #authors #writing #floodrelief #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #pakistan #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #writersofpakistan #writersofinstagram #TheNightInHerHair

We love this reel by @read.sleep.repeat_ ❤️🎶

#TheNightInHerHair #books #writers #writing #bookstagrampak

Reposted from @read.sleep.repeat_ 🌺 A day spent well with the amazing @biba.t.abbas ‘s fresh release ‘THE NIGHT IN HER HAIR’ that is also my first pick for #storyseptember 🌺

In September we read stories and what would be better than a retelling of Pakistani legends and folklore.

👹👹 ‘From the shadowed world of Kash Kash Jinn amid the snowbound peaks of the Himalayas, and the haunting snake forests of Nagrai in Kashmir, to Marvi's thirst for the golden sands of the Thar - The Night In Her Hair is a fictional retelling of legends and folk tales. The stories move through place and time, bridging the realm of magic and shapeshifters and the world of men and women.’🧟🧌

‘The stories move through place and time, bridging the realm of magic and shapeshifters and the world of men and women.’

Throughout this month I would be reading a story a day from this collection and many more
to come and you can also join me! Wait! If you still haven’t ordered your copy grab it from @alabooksandauthors and hop on the train to accompany as we travel travel from Kashmir to Thar and beyond and everywhere Abbas decides to take us!

Artwork by: Huma Agha Abbas
Music: @aroojaftab
@biba.t.abbas
@alabooksandauthors
Thank you for the gifted copy. 🙏🏻♥️

(This is not affiliated with instagram in any way. This is also not and ARC or a PR product. I requested for the copy.)

#TheNightInHerHair in The Friday Times today, among exciting new additions to Pakistan's literary industry.

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#writer #books #writing #authors #writers #writingcommunity #art #artist #writerscommunity #bookstagrampak #bookstagram #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #women #literature #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas

Starting now, and throughout the month of September, all proceeds from our sales will be going towards Flood Relief efforts across the country.

Visit alabooksandauthors.com and join us in raising funds by making your donation today.

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#floodrelief #donation #pakistan #writers #artist #writingcommunity #books #bookstagram #art #writerscommunity #bookstagrampak #authors

#Repost @biba.t.abbas
What does it mean to retell our ancient stories with a modern relevance? I'll begin with Mirza. Mirza as I imagined him. Mirza as he might be today. A headstrong nineteen year old boy. A gleaming athlete. Mirza, the inimitable archer. Mirza, who could be Achilles, who could be Arjun.

Literature, art, language, none of it is meant to be an anachronism, any more than life is meant to be lived backwards. You move forward, you absorb yourself into the world, and come out bearing a unique universal place. Defying definition.

If these are our most enduring stories, it's for a reason. And one that everyone will realize and interpret in their own ways. But that is something that can only happen in the here and now. By renewing, reimagining a representation of these stories through our own selves, by freeing them of the various trappings that have limited them as cultural artefacts of an archaic past. By entering them, becoming them, through the world that we know, through the language that we speak, through the emotions that we understand. Because the divide of a thousand years means nothing. What we were then, we are now.
#TheNightInHerHair

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#stories #booklove #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #publishing #publisher #writer #author #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #southasia #readersofinstagram #reading #writersofinstagram

Glimpses from @dr.osamasiddique's wonderful review of The Night In Her Hair, in The Friday Times, and available to read on our website (link in bio).
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#writer #books #writers #bookstagrampak #bookstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #booklove #bibliophile #authors #HumaAghaAbbas #TaibaAbbas

And we're back! Head over to alabooksandauthors.com to buy your copy of The Night In Her Hair now, leave reviews, and read an exclusive excerpt from Himal Nagrai.

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#writers #books #authors #writing #publishing #art #artist #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #bookstagrampak #bookstagram #booklove #bibliophile #writersofpakistan #pakistaniauthors #literature

The title says it all. Happy to be featured in this wonderful piece on Pakistani publishing by @khadijasayshi @thefridaytimes

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#writers #books #publishing #publisher #artist #bookstagram #bookstagrampak #art #alabooksandauthors #women #booksbooksbooks #booklove #pakistaniauthors

Our website is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance and upgrades. We will be back soon!

In the meantime you can order your copy of The Night In Her Hair by emailing us directly at: sales@alabooksandauthors.com

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#writers #books #authors #publishers #bookstagram #writingcommunity #book #bookstagrampak #writerscommunity #writing #reading #pakistaniauthors #writersofpakistan

Glimpses from Habba Khatoon.

#Repost @biba.t.abbas

My grandmother Alima Agha made this painting a long time ago, in Srinagar. She named it Habba Khatoon. Habba Khatoon (Zooni as she was first known) – the poet from Pampore, who lived in the sixteenth century when Kashmir was conquered by Akbar. Habba Khatoon wandered the valley, alone, for years, and was never found, her poetry becoming an enduring symbol of Kashmir. Her songs found a resonant home time and time again in the words of poets who came long after her. And the most memorable and poignant home in #AghaShahidAli.

I kept this painting in front of me when I wrote her story in #TheNightInHerHair

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To Tell The Untold And Imagine The Unimagined