Over the past three decades—

I have generated a novel, essays, poems, and short stories that have appeared in anthologies, newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

Sehba Sarwar Writer Activist
Sehba Sarwar teaching writing workshop Voices of the Displaced at Project Row Houses, Houston; photo by Shaista Parveen

My work moves between Pakistan, the US, and in spaces in between, collapsing borders while tackling women’s issues, displacement, and migration.

My essays and poems have appeared in anthologies, newspapers and magazines including the New York Times Sunday Magazine, Callaloo, ASIA: Magazine of Asian Literature, South Asian Review and elsewhere. My NYT’s story, “A Delicate Matter in the Examination Room,” tells the story of a refugee, who shares the challenges and humor of translating medical terms.

My latest short story, "Railway Track," was released in May 2019 as part of Akashic Press' series, Houston Noir, edited by fellow writer Gwendolyn Zepeda.

In “Railway Track,” the protagonist discovers that being a mental health counselor is like being a detective. Another short story, “Soot,” published by a Feminist Press anthology, And the World Changed (ed. Muneeza Shamsie), is about a Pakistani woman pursuing a graduate internship at an Indian non-profit organization, while “A Sandstone Past” in Neither Night Nor Day: 13 Stories By Women Writers From Pakistan (ed. Rakshanda Jalil) is told in the voice of a 14-year-old, who recounts a story that highlights the impact of 1947 Partition on contemporary Karachi.

Book covers: Houston Noir, And the World Changed and Neither Night Nor Day

Upcoming and Recent Publications

JAN 2025

Essay: “Skyping My Father Goodbye.”In the New Century: An Anthology of Pakistani Literature in English,ed. Muneeza Shamsie, January 2025, pp. 240-241.

JAN 2025

Essay: “Un/Natural Disasters.” Sapan News, January 21, 2025.

OCT 2024

Poems: “On Belonging, “Tearing Wires, Building Bridges,” Doc 101: Intro to Life and How to Live It,” and “Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?” Poetry in English from Pakistan, eds. Ilona Yusuf and Shafiq Naz, Alhamra, 2024, pp. 152-156.

APR 2023

Poem: “On Belonging: A Found Poem.” Altadena Poetry Review: Anthology 2024, ed. Peter J. Harris, Golden Foothills Press, p. 156.

APR 2023

Essay:  “Call Me Sehba.” Cultural Daily, April 20, 2023.

CONTACT

I am an author and speaker, an artist, and a community and cultural activist.

If I can use my talents and passions to inspire you or your network to push boundaries and become involved in our communities, please connect with me. I offer a range of services including: readings, workshops, courses, or multidisciplinary performances/installations. I look forward to hearing from you!

Sehba Sarwar Art Car
Front hood of my art car, Digital Meets Pakistani Truck Art, featuring stickers of buraq images from Karachi; photo by Burnell McCray