Published Books:

The Happiness Question: What Brings Happiness to 366 Different People

In 2015, I dared to ask - "What brings happiness to others?" So I set out on a journey to find out. Every day for 366 days, I asked one person to write a sentence in a book I carried with me about something that brings happiness to their life. Some people were family, friends, and co-workers, but the majority were random people. I asked people on the street, in parking lots, coffee shops, trains, grocery stores, and museums. I asked people from all walks of life - neurologists, artists, CEOs, the homeless, cheerleaders, and Washington lobbyists. People from all over the world participated, from the United States, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, France, Ethiopia, Ukraine, India, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco, Korea, Israel, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Zambia, Slovakia, Serbia, Scotland, to name some. In the process, I not only overcame much of my shyness, but I also met some incredible people, shared wonderful conversations, and heard some powerful stories.

Some people wrote more to make me go away than for their excitement to participate, while others were moved to tears that a stranger would care enough to ask what makes them happy. Everyone is on their own journey, with their own unique perspectives. We share our humanity, our pursuit of happiness, and I believe there is beauty in our differences.

EXCERPT: "Warm summer nights, the sound of cicadas, driving out into the middle of nowhere or feeling small in a big city. Dance also makes me really happy – I dance for myself in the mirror all the time..."

The Circus Flower: An Elephant's Tale

Deep in the heart of the African desert, a rare elephant longs for freedom. Since childhood, Misbah has been a prisoner of Mufasa's Amazing Circus. The star of the show, she suffers endless days and nights as she’s forced to practice her performance to perfection. Anything less means trouble with the Master. Fortunately, she has two very loyal friends looking out for her. Join Misbah as she journeys through the joys and perils of circus life, friendship, and loss. The desert holds many lessons. Some are obvious, while others are hidden away, waiting to be discovered...just past the horizon. Never give up on your dreams.

EXCERPT: "The tent was monstrous and brimming with life. The energized crowd exacerbated the already intolerable heat; she could smell their perspiration and grime. She advanced forward, the craggy, splinter-covered wooden boards creaking with contention under her weight. She detested it all…”