Author Spotlight: Fidan Meikle

SBWN: What is My Name is Samim about?

Fidan Meikle: My Name is Samim follows a young boy from Afghanistan who becomes a refugee and ends up in the UK after a long and dangerous journey. It’s a story about loss, survival, courage, and, ultimately, hope. It’s inspired by the real experiences of many children who are forced to leave everything behind when home is no longer safe.

Samim, the main character of the book, is a refugee from Afghanistan whose story is in large part inspired by true stories and real experiences of young refugees coming to Britain.

SBWN: How did you access and approach these experiences? And how did you find the balance in illustrating the trauma these young people face, while avoiding sensationalism or exploitation?

Fidan: The research for My Name is Samim took longer than the writing. I have a background in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, specialising in Iran and Afghanistan, but I knew I needed to go deeper to truly understand the refugee experience. I read memoirs, watched interviews, and listened to first-hand accounts from young refugees. One of the most valuable parts of this process was working with Afghan photojournalist Aryan Musleh, whose contacts, many of whom had fled Afghanistan, shared powerful personal stories that helped shape the emotional truth of the book.

Writing about Samim’s journey came with a real sense of responsibility. I didn’t want to overwhelm young readers or make the story feel bleak and hopeless, but I also didn’t want to soften it too much. This isn’t an easy topic to soften, it’s a harsh reality for millions of children around the world, and I wanted to do justice to their experiences while still making the book accessible to primary school readers. My focus throughout was on empathy. I kept asking myself: How would this feel for a child living through it? and How can I help readers understand that feeling without turning away from it?

To keep the story grounded and hopeful, I made sure there was always light alongside the darkness. Zayn’s [Samim’s best friend’s] lively personality helped a lot, his humour and resilience bring warmth to the story and remind us that even in the hardest circumstances, there is still space for friendship, laughter, and small moments of joy.

SBWN: What were some of the challenges – both expected and unexpected – that you encountered in bringing this book to life?

Fidan: The emotional weight was a big one. Some scenes, especially when Samim loses people he loves, stayed with me long after I wrote them. I often had to take breaks or step away. I also struggled, and still do, with self-doubt. Am I worthy of telling this story? Am I doing it justice? Eventually, I realised that I’ll probably always ask those questions, and maybe that’s a good thing. It keeps me grounded and hopefully means that I’m approaching the story with the care and respect it deserves.

SBWN: What are the most rewarding and most difficult aspects of writing for middle-grade readers?

Fidan: One of the most rewarding parts of writing My Name is Samim has been seeing how stories can shift perspectives and open hearts. One young beta reader told me that before reading the book, she didn’t know much about refugees, but now, whenever she hears the word, she thinks of Samim and feels warmth, because it reminds her of someone she likes. That meant everything to me. Because that’s the power of stories: they turn something abstract or distant into something personal and familiar. And when that happens, there’s less room for fear or prejudice, and more room for empathy, compassion, and connection.

The hardest part of writing for middle-grade readers was finding the right balance and keeping the language and tone suitable for younger readers without losing the emotional depth.

My writing style can also be quite flowery at times. I do love a good metaphor or simile! Growing up in Azerbaijan and reading a lot of Eastern literature definitely shaped that part of me. So one of the challenges was also finding a way to stay true to my voice while making sure the story was still easy to follow for middle-grade readers.

SBWN: You signed on with Floris Books through our partnership with them in 2023, where they held an open call for pitches for SBWN writers. Can you briefly take us through what that process was like from pitch to publication?

Fidan: At the time, I wasn’t even sure if I should submit. I was in that vulnerable space so many writers know: the part where your story means everything to you, but you’re not sure if it will matter to anyone else. When I saw the SBWN and Floris Books opportunity, something in me nudged, just try.

I sent my pitch and sample chapters to Sally Polson at Floris Books ahead of a short Zoom meeting we had during the online SBWN conference [in 2021]. Honestly, I had no expectations. I was just hoping for some feedback or insight into the publishing world. I was quite nervous to hear what she thought, but Sally immediately put me at ease. She told me she really liked the opening chapters and wanted to read the rest of the manuscript. That was completely unexpected and felt a bit surreal. I was so happy and grateful.

The only catch was that I’d only written about 20% of the story at that point! But Sally was incredibly supportive and said I could take my time and get in touch when it was finished, which is exactly what I did.

From there, everything moved forward. The editing process was intense but also wonderful. I felt genuinely lucky to work with such a thoughtful and committed team who truly cared about the story and wanted to help me tell it in the best way possible. It was collaborative, respectful, and a really special experience from beginning to end.

SBWN: What does your writing process usually look like?

Fidan: I usually start my writing day early by re-reading what I wrote the day before, making a few small edits, and then picking up where I left off. I do have one rule though: never stop at the tricky part. If I leave the story in a difficult spot, it’s much harder to return to it the next day. So I always try to work through those harder moments and write until I get to a place where it feels good again. That way, I’m excited to come back to it. I don’t set word count goals; I just write until it feels like a natural stopping point, or until life (and work!) pulls me away.

I never actually plotted My Name is Samim. What I did have were four handwritten notebooks full of research: facts, personal accounts, and details about the refugee experience that I’d gathered over time, along with a carefully mapped route from Afghanistan to the UK. I handwrote everything because it helped me remember it better.

But more importantly, I had Samim and Zayn. They felt so real to me, like children I’d known all my life. I heard their voices clearly, and I simply followed them. I didn’t plan chapter by chapter; the boys led the way.

SBWN: Any tips for budding middle-grade writers?

Fidan: Spend time with children and listen to them. I make a point of researching everything my kids like to read and watch, and I’m constantly asking them questions and learning from their take on the world. I even secretly jot down some of their funny lines and phrases. I say “secretly,” but my son has already spotted a few of his own lines in My Name is Samim and was pretty pleased with himself about that!

Another bit of advice is don’t underestimate young readers. Middle-grade readers are bursting with curiosity, empathy, and emotional depth. They can handle more than we often give them credit for. So be honest in your storytelling. Children have a sharp sense for when something’s been watered down, and they deserve stories that respect their intelligence and feelings.

SBWN: Can you share some of your favourite books or authors?

Fidan: Khaled Hosseini is, without a doubt, my favourite author of all time. What I admire most is the way he captures the quiet dignity of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Every book he’s written is full of humanity, heartbreak, and hope. His characters feel so real, their inner lives so vividly drawn, that I sometimes find myself thinking about them as if they were people I once knew.

Another author who changed the way I think about writing is Julie Otsuka, through her novel The Buddha in the Attic. It’s a masterclass in voice, restraint, and rhythm. The language is spare but lyrical, every sentence deliberate, every detail weighty. With just a few carefully chosen words, Julie Otsuka brings an entire world and its voices to life in the most powerful, unforgettable way.

SBWN: What’s next for you, and what should we keep an eye out for?

Fidan: I’m currently editing the sequel to My Name is Samim. It follows Zayn, Samim’s friend and a key side character in Book One. This will be the final book in the series, wrapping up the journey of two boys, best friends, as they discover where they truly belong.

Writing the final lines of Book Two was emotional. It felt a bit like saying goodbye to my sons, letting them go and trusting they’ll find their way in the world. But I’m also really excited about Book Two. I began writing it with one clear issue in mind that I wanted to explore, but along the way, it grew into something more: a story about unity and humanity, a story about how, despite our differences, we all share a love for family, the fear of loss, and the hope for a better future.