Nadya A.R.

Nadya A.R. was born in 1971, in Lahore, Pakistan.[1] Her father, Dr. Arshad Malik, is a former federal secretary to the Government of Pakistan. He studied public administration at St Antony's College, University of Oxford. Dr. Arshad Malik served the government for nearly 35 years, and held many senior positions and was the head of corporations. After retirement, he involved himself in education and community work and has also worked as a senior professor in management sciences. Dr. Arshad Malik is the author of three compilations of Urdu poetry. Nadya's mother, Razia Arshad Malik, is the youngest daughter of H.M. Habibullah Paracha, who was a businessman, politician, social worker, ambassador, and mayor of Karachi, Pakistan. Her younger sister, Mahnaz Malik, is a lawyer and author of Mo's star, published by Oxford University Press.

Nadya A.R. completed her school years at St Joseph's Convent, Karachi, Pakistan. She attended Kinnaird College, Lahore, and then earned her B.B.A. (Hons) from Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, in 1993.[1]

She has completed the Read/Hornsby Teacher Training Diploma (UK) and a Master's in Inclusive and Special Education, at University of Birmingham, U.K.[1]

She finished a Certificate Course in Novel Writing from London School of Journalism, UK, in 2007–2008. Thereafter, she enrolled in the Summer Programme in Creative Writing, held at Exeter College, Oxford University, UK, and completed two workshops - writing fiction and writing for young adults.

While working as a remedial teacher, she achieved a Level 3 Certificate in counselling—therapy works (A UK degree in counseling and therapy/ CPCAB-UK-2010).

After relocating to Singapore, completed a master's degree in Contemporary Therapeutic Counselling (BMC, Singapore/ University of Hertfordshire, UK – 2011–2013).[1] Her dissertation explored the relevance of secure base and attachment theory, related to early childhood issues. She obtained a distinction in her master's degree.

In 2006, Nadya published her first novel, Kolachi Dreams.[3][4] Kolachi Dreams has been included in the curriculum/course readings for an anthropology course on 'Contemporary Pakistan' in the University of Texas, at Austin, U.S.A.

She has also worked as a voluntary worker/teacher and counselor to street children. During this time, Nadya started working on her second novel, Invisible Ties, which was published in August 2017.

She is a certified psychotherapist and conducts workshops and talks, in Pakistan and Singapore.[1]

Critical reception for Kolachi Dreams includes praise from novelist and columnist Shobha De’, who stated at the novel's launch ceremony, "She knows her turf all right! Raw and searing, Nadya’s first book is a fast and furious read," and praised Nadya A.R. for her "immense boldness and courage" to write on the taboo topics and themes of the novel.[4] Pakistani author Bapsy Sidhwa stated, "Nadya tells a chilling story set in today's Pakistan with flair. She is a promising new writer and knows how to engage the reader in this suspenseful work."[4]

Critical reception for Invisible Ties includes a review by Muhammad Omar Iftikhar in the Daily Times, who writes, "Nadya’s words help readers visualize the story as it progresses – one page after the other. Her consistent usage of descriptive imagery to illustrate scenes, characters and their emotions may as well distract some readers. However, I adored how Nadya uses ‘show, don’t tell’ to perfection."[5] In a review by Md Akhlaq for The Asian Chronicle, Akhlaq writes, "Author Nadya comes across as a keen observer of life and manages to capture the complexity of life beautifully in her writing. The narrative is beautiful and can be easily called poetry in prose, which is really very unique."[6] In a review for Book World, Ritu Maheshwari writes, "The storyline and plot have all the potential to become a great novel, but the author spent her precious words in describing things and not emotions."[7] Press Trust of India reports the book "has been commended by leading Indian personalities, including Mahesh Bhatt, Shobhaa De and Pakistani poet and columnist Salman Tarik Kureshi."[8]

• Broken Souls (1995)
• Kolachi Dreams (2006), Sama Editorial and Publishing, ISBN 978-9698784478
• Invisible Ties (2017), Rupa Publications, ISBN 978-8129147974[9]

Nadya A.R. is married to Abbas Rahimtoola, an international businessman, who was educated at Westminster School, London, and Brown University, where he graduated magna cum laude and achieved a double major in economics and international relations.