Sana Al-shemmari is a 27-year-old dentist who likes to write novels in her spare time. She was born and raised in Canada where she formed most of her core memories. She is the author of the book Fever Dreams which is a mystery-crime novel with two protagonists, and the story is told from two different perspectives. We caught up with her to learn more about her and how she published her first book!

Published in November 2022, Sana tells us that the main character of Fever Dreams is David Pim, who works as a garbage man. In his ordinary life, nothing ever happens, but one day he stumbles upon a letter in a trash can on a wealthy street. With the discovery of the letter, his world turns upside down and life, as he knows it, is never the same. He finds himself embarking on a journey with Nancy James, the second main character, to solve a crime that they become entangled in forever. They soon find out the hard way that some secrets aren’t to be revealed, and some lives aren’t to be meddled with, but it is too late as it is.

Sana explains that “the inspiration behind Fever Dreams is from a psychological TV show called Bates Motel. It’s about a boy that has a convoluted relationship with his mother that causes him to black out and murder people. I loved the horror element and the plot twists in the show. I loved being on the edge of my seat watching it, and so I wished to create something equally dark, creepy, and fascinating. Bates Motel was a huge part of the inspiration behind Fever Dreams, but I can’t say it’s the sole source. I think I gained inspiration collectively from the world around me. For example, one time while I was in the transitory phase of sleep, I heard the sound of a garbage truck outside, and that rumbling sound of the truck past midnight created this masterpiece.”

Having always been an avid reader, Sana has been inspired by Agatha Christie and Stephen King and considers them to be her idols. She feels that they are very unique and talented. Her favorite book by Agatha Christie is ‘And Then There Were None.’ She tells us that she finds that with Agatha, the elements of suspense and surprise are high. She gets you gripped and captivated from the first page, and the ending is always unpredictable.

It took Sana two years to get her book published, and it was neither an easy nor a smooth process. She found that in Kuwait, you must submit a book in Arabic to be published. However, her persistence paid off when she approached and negotiated with Dar Tagaseem. The publishing house saw her vision and went along on the journey. There was a risk that her book wouldn’t sell because it was the only English book, but it sold out during the second week of the book fair. She received amazing feedback at the book signing, they were very thrilled to hear about Fever Dreams and it warmed Sana’s heart to know that she had fans and supporters.

Fever Dreams is Sana’s first book that has been published, but not the first that she has written. She is already working on a sequel, and at the same time she is working on a book of another genre (dystopian science fiction) and for a younger age group. It’s about a girl named Abby who has an eating disorder that manifests itself as a monster. No one can save Abby from this monster except Abby herself, but in saving herself, she has to reveal unresolved conflict, accept her flaws, and visit dark icky places. It contains a plethora of emotions, elucidates Abby’s struggles, and sends a powerful message about body positivity. The bazaar team is super excited about this one!

Sana believes that “readers don’t just read a book, they live it. I want my stories to be a source of amusement, entertainment, and a method of escapism. At the same time, I hope they gain pieces of knowledge as my book is thoroughly researched before any information is laid out. I think that when you read a book, you get to know the author as well because their writing is filtered through their own beliefs, their emotions, their life experiences, and their perspective. I want my readers to see how I view the world and possibly relate to the things I say. And because words never die, I’ve put subliminal messages and powerful sentences throughout the entire book that I wish live on in my reader’s minds forever.”

Sana hopes that one day Fever Dreams makes it to the big screens and turns into a motion picture, but in the meantime, she has been spending her days writing, ice skating (which is a new passion of hers) and rescuing animals. The self-proclaimed cat lady is in love with her adopted fluff-ball called Lucky and is a strong advocate for animal rights.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

What do you most value about your friends?
The thing I value most about friendship is reliance. It’s reassuring to know that you have someone to lean on when life gets tough.

Which living person do you most admire?
I’d like to say myself without sounding cocky or conceited. I admire myself for going through hardships and coming out stronger than ever.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
The term ‘perfect happiness’ simply does not exist because nothing in life is perfect and because happiness is ephemeral.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I’d probably say my greatest extravagance is skin care and hair care products.

What is your most treasured possession?
My most treasured possession is a tiny red polka dot pillow my mum hand sewed in Upper Canada Village many years ago. One day as I was going to school, I asked my mum if she could get me a small pillow for my Barbie and when I came home that day, she had handed it to me. I’ve had it for over twenty years and I’ve cherished it to this day.

What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is that I don’t live up to my potential. I have high hopes for myself and I fear that I might not aspire to those heights.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I am an empath. Growing up I used to think I had superpowers because I could make myself cry just by imagining something unpleasant.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Sometimes I wish I could cook so that I could make myself a homemade gourmet meal.

What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
I am grateful for my sensitivity.

What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
Negativity. I detest a person who has a very rigid very narrow pattern of thinking.

What is it that you most dislike?
Injustice. However, I am fully aware that life itself is a form of injustice and that we mustn’t brood over life’s unfairness.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I often find myself saying “it’s not that serious,” whenever I’m faced with any type of difficult or unpleasant situation.

What are your favorite words to live by?
“Take the risk or lose the chance.” I think life is all about taking chances and getting out of your comfort zone because there is no growth inside a comfort zone.

Where would you most like to live?
Definitely Vancouver- Canada. It’s the optimal destination and one of the best places to live.

What would you consider your greatest achievement?
Becoming a doctor, of course. I salute myself every day for getting through dental school. I’m also very proud of myself for writing Fever Dreams.

If you could have any job, what would it be?
I love being a dentist. I don’t think I would want to change career paths.

What do you hope for the future?
I hope the future is a place where I get to live all my silent prayers and be with the people I love. Amen.

Sana considers writing to be therapy and finds that it brings her joy and comfort. She has already published her first book and is well on the way to becoming one of the most prolific writers in the country. Follow her on Instagram @dr.s_alshemmari to join her on her literary journey.