Meet Our New Intern: Hiba Syed

Hello! My name is Hiba Syed, and as one of the new editorial interns, I can’t wait to work with the amazing team at Sundress Publications. I graduated just last year with a BA in English from Maryville University near St. Louis, where I am still based. Though my field is a highly unusual choice in my cultural community, I chose it because I believe books have been my life’s most constant passion for a reason.

Coming from a big family of people who don’t read more than they have to, I make up for it by reading enough for all of us combined. Some people stress-eat, or stress-clean, while I am prone to stress-read. Of all the problems my first-generation immigrant, engineer parents anticipated when they had their first child, having to listen to elementary school teachers explain that their daughter’s library book had to be confiscated mid-lesson was not one of them. My ability to focus has improved greatly since then, but even now, I always have an e-book or a physical novel within arm’s reach. So naturally, I couldn’t picture myself happily working with anything other than the written word.

In terms of reading tastes, my first love was definitely fantasy, but nowadays I gravitate towards translated literature, classics, and poetry. I am also always scoping out works, new and old, English and translated, by Muslim and South Asian authors. Some of my favorite titles are The Laughter by Sonora Jha, The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

In my free time, aside from reading, I hoard recipes, try some of those recipes, and go on long walks until my audiobooks run out. My professional journey is only just kicking off, but I’m excited to see where this opportunity will take me. Thank you for reading!

Hiba Syed is a Pakistani-American writer and reviewer with an appreciation for all genres. Having recently graduated with a BA in English, she fills her time traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, and reading anything she can get her hands on. Currently she resides in St. Louis, Missouri.