Anse Shabnam Mahmood has her graduate degree in English with a focus on children’s and British literature. She has taught at various universities and coaches a middle school literary competition called Battle of the Books; her team is the reigning champion. Anse Shabnam loves to read YA and children’s literature. When not engrossed in a cup of tea and mystery, she devotes time to her second love, food! Anse Shabnam is a self-described foodie always in the kitchen trying new recipes and baking. She grew up learning about cooking and baking, writing about food for magazines, creating recipes for publication and loves teaching various regions’ food histories and the culinary habits of her favorite authors. Anse Shabnam lives in Skokie, Illinois, with her family and a fish named Rumi, where she loves cooking and especially baking with her daughter for their family and community. Anse Shabnam volunteers at her masjid as the editor for the newsletter and library committee chair and teaches Seerah at Sunday School as Quran Department Head. Anse Shabnam is a board trustee of Skokie Public Library.
