Sonia Hadj Said is a Polish-Tunisian writer living in Scotland and author of the autofiction novella ‘Bluebird’, published by Leamington Books in 2023.
Since moving to the UK in 2010, she graduated with a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies and an MA in International Journalism while working at various odd hospitality jobs which have been inspiring much of her work.
Sonia’s writing explores themes of migration, belonging, mental health, privilege and societal expectations as seen in Songs from the Underground (East London Press), Songs of Revolution: Poems Against Oppression (Sunday Mornings at the River), Berlin ArtParasites and more.
Sonia is currently working on Bushy Tails - a nonfiction work that explores lessons in healing set in Scotland and a sequel to her first book, ‘Jasminowa Rewolucja’ published in Poland in 2015 by Novae Res, which celebrates her Arabic heritage.
Forever a theatre junkie, she can be found reviewing shows for SNACK magazine.
"Yes to this one. lovers of of the Bell jar, read this next!" ~Allyson shaw, author of ashes and stones
"SONIA HADJ SAID’S NOVELLA, ‘BLUEBIRD’, CAUGHT ME UP SHORT AND TOOK MY BREATH AWAY" ~DOUGLAS BRUTON, AUTHOR OF BLUE POSTCARDS
BLUEBIRD
Bluebird starts on a morning that the protagonist believes to be the end of her life.
An immigrant from Eastern Europe, the narrator has spent the last ten years thriving to be a writer or a journalist in London and failing on every front.
In a bid to try and save herself, she takes a month off from her catering job and takes us down memory lane of experiences of being a young immigrant woman as well as a struggling artist. Minimum-wage jobs, unpaid internships, school certificates, rented rooms in dangerous-feeling areas, nightlife, rejections, family expectations: these are all entwined in her inner monologue as she fights for her own life before time runs out.
“Without sentimentality, Sonia Hadj Said's captivating novella records the casual cruelties of life and its fleeting moments of human connection and tenderness as an immigrant woman attempts to reconcile herself to the world around her.” ~Leamington Press
Jaśminowa Rewolucja (PL)
Gdy sytuacje znane dotąd jedynie z lekcji historii stają się brutalną rzeczywistością. Jasmin ma wszystko, czego może chcieć od życia młoda Europejka - mieszkanie w centrum miasta, bujne życie towarzyskie i obiecujące perspektywy na przyszłość. Nie musi się też martwić o pieniądze, które płyną szerokim strumieniem z matczynego konta. Gdy jednak matka odcina ją od finansów, a ukochana babcia umiera, przyparta do muru niepokorna Jasmin postanawia uciec do Tunezji, skąd pochodzi jej ojciec. W zupełnie nowym świecie bohaterka odnajduje nić porozumienia z przystojnym chłopakiem. Gdy parę zaczyna łączyć coś więcej, w Tunezji wybucha „Jaśminowa Rewolucja", a nowy przyjaciel dziewczyny aktywnie włącza się w jej przebieg... Świetny wybór dla miłośników powieści Khaleda Hosseiniego.
BUSHY TAILS
A book in progress, set in Scotland — and its accompanying voice notes from a journey through the messy middle. From the dark depths of disconnection to self-taught healing through folklore, magick, nature, and stories found at the bottom of many, many pints — all told with the awkward bravery of a cat-like bushy tail.