SHAY KHAN — FOUNDER, HOMESICK™

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Shay Khan is a writer, artist, singer/song-writer,and now founder of a zine called HOMESICK™.

Shay Khan is a Pakistani-Canadian writer and artist based in Toronto. Shay finished her first novel while she was still in high school. Since then she has written another novel that is currently being considered for publication, and is on her way to completing her third. She has published a chapbook titled Grey that sold out of all printed copies. Shay also creates comics, art, and writes book reviews that can be found on her Instagram page @blobbycomics.

Shay came up with the idea for HOMESICK as she struggled to get her novel published without prior publications. She knew that she was not alone and that there were hundreds of other writers and artists waiting to get recognition for their work. Shay wanted to create a platform that prioritized writers and artists who had never been published, defying the existing platforms that gave preference to ‘established’ artists and writers. Thus HOMESICK was born — a space for everyone, a place where people could feel like they belong.

You exist in the dark recesses of my mind whether I acknowledge you or not. Worse; when I don’t acknowledge you, you force your way through the gnarled roots of my brain and reveal yourself in hideous ways. You my lovely, lovely friend are not
Love and Other Carnivorous Plants by Florence Gonsalves Rating: 2/5 I really liked the beginning of this book. I was into the romance, it was cute and that kept me reading but then the story kind of fell off and I found myself putting it down and pi
The Grief Keeper by @magpiewrites Rating: 4.5/5 I can not stop raving about this book. I absolutely loved it. It is so well written, the subject matter is so important, the characters are all so real — everything about this book is beautiful.
The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan Rating: 3/5 I really wanted to like this book and I’m sad that I didn’t enjoy it that much. It was well written description wise but the pacing left the story feeling disjointed and rushed
Lately, I’ve been quiet. Words wash over me roil inside of me but nothing comes out. Concrete holds on to warmth. Remembering sunshine and happiness even when it’s long gone. I’m familiar with the feeling you leave in my chest It l
The Opposite of Always by @justinwritesya Rating: 4/5 I love how this book jumps right into action. I love the time travel and how it shows the impact different decisions have. I loved how most of the book has POC characters. The meet-cute/romance
Past Tense by @musing_star Rating: 4/5 I really loved the writing in this book. All the feelings and scenarios the protagonist was going through were described so vividly and so well it felt like I WAS her. The feelings of dread regarding her mothe
Under My Hijab by @henakhanbooks Rating: 4.5/5 This book is a children's book and is totally not meant for me but I still loved it. The story is adorable and the illustrations are beautiful. It's the only book of its kind so far that I've seen and
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by @ashleyhblake Rating: 4.5/5 This is the first book I've read in a while that I completely lost myself in. Nothing distracted from the story - I wasn't being taken out of the plot because of bad writing or paci
There's a little girl Who wants to be me There are stars in her eyes as she gazes at my hair twirling her fingers in her own trying and trying to get them to curl but they won't. Sweet as a puppy always following at our feet only to be shooed awa
Karma Khullar's Mustache by @kristiwientge Rating: 4/5 This book took me right back to middle school. It was really well written; the child-like perspective was there but it wasn't like a child wrote the book, if that makes sense. Middle school is a
She hates me. She pulls and picks and scratches and rips and starves and slices and cries and screams and I— I. Take it all. I carry her all day. Cradle her at night, paint sweet pictures while she sleeps and spin fanciful tales while she si