Sumayya Usmani

Sumayya became an author in her forties. Before this, she was a lawyer, but the higher she climbed the ladder the further she moved away from her calling—a passion for food, writing, and creativity. She tapped into what inspired her the most, and she began writing about the food she grew up with in Pakistan. All she did was share her stories with authenticity and soul. Sumayya grew from a food writer to a creative writing mentor. She's been published three times: two award-winning cookbooks and an award-winning food memoir Andaza.

Sumayya's work has appeared in The New York Times, Food 52, Saveur, The Telegraph, Delicious, Olive, The Guardian, BBC Good Food, and has appeared on TV with Madhur Jaffery. In 2024, she returned to university to complete her Masters in Creative Writing followed by her DFA. She mentors other writers and runs a writing membership online called Qissa, and continues to write about nostalgia, food, and belonging.