My Birthmark and Me

This transcript is from a conversation on Radio Cardiff's weekly show called the B.O.M.B, hosted by Donna Ali.

In this episode, we celebrated International Women's Day with a wonderful new children's author who believes that representation matters.

My name is Jaziea Farag, a teacher by trade, primarily serving as an advisor for speech and language and advocating for care-experienced young people. I work as a partner for Darpl, specialising in Early Years Anti-racist practice, and I am also a Children’s Author.

My main inspiration is my children. Watching them grow up in Wales and being passionate about ensuring they have fair and equitable opportunities. I also feel inspired by other global majority authors such as Jessica Dunrod and Alex Wharton, who are paving the way for more Global Majority Welsh authors in the future.

What was the inspiration behind your book?

Well, it's a lot of things coming together. I think it started with the fact that I have a birthmark on my face. As a child, I never saw books with main characters who had a birthmark like mine. Growing up, I didn't think much about it, but as I got older, I realized that it did have an impact on me. Then, having my three beautiful children who all have birthmarks too, I wanted them to feel proud of their birthmarks and see a character doing amazing things, with the birthmark being just a part of who they are. I think that's really important.

Where you conscious of your birthmark as a child?

Yes, definitely. It was often a topic of conversation, by children at school and adults. They would ask what it was or try to wipe it off. It was difficult to have that conversation because nobody was talking about it. Teachers would say, 'Don't ask about that,' or 'Don't mention that,' and it wasn’t discussed. Part of the book is about normalising it, having that conversation, and saying, 'It's something normal and something to be proud of. Having a distinguishing mark of feature makes you special and unique, so embrace it.'

Absolutely. I love that you turned your experience into something positive and a message for the world. Creating this book is wonderful because little kids can see themselves in it, and representation is so important. Tell us a little bit about the process of writing the book.

Everyone’s got a book inside them somewhere. It was always there for me. I had little notes that I made over time. As a teacher, I often thought certain ideas would be great for a book. Recently, with a lot of work in anti-racist training and thinking about representation, I made time to sit and write it down. I was part of a project with a group called Out Door, which supports Black authors. They provided some training and guidance on how to publish a book, which I had no idea about. It helped me understand how many pages a book should have, for instance. Then I spent time actually writing it down. The main thing is finding quiet time to get the book out.

What did you learn that you can impart to people who might want to go on that journey as well?

The main thing I learned was to be confident in your ability to do it. I didn't see many Black women authors writing books or visiting schools to talk about their stories. Being confident that your book is something the world wants to hear about is crucial. Also, spend time getting to know your main character. What do they like? What makes them unique? Even if you don't include all these details in your book, having a strong idea of who your main character is helps structure your story.

One thing I noticed about your book is that you didn't name the character. I love that because everyone can identify with them. That was really clever.

Yes, it was intentional.

The illustrations are stunning, done by Tulip Studio. Who are they and where are they based?

They're based in Italy. I discovered them through another book I was looking at. I loved their bright and engaging illustrations. That part of the process was really fun. I had extensive notes on what I wanted on each page, and Tulip Studio was great at listening to my ideas. We had a back-and-forth conversation to ensure everything looked good. There are lots of hidden things in the book for readers to find.

The illustrations are grounded in Wales, which I love. Children need to see representation not only in how they look but also in their local area. Why did you choose Welsh locations?

It came from my teaching background and the difficulty of finding books that fit the theme we were teaching, especially ones featuring local areas like Cardiff. I wanted the pictures to show places like Cardiff Castle, Roath Park Lake, and Cosmeston Lake, so children could see and visit those locations. That was an important part of the story for me.

There has been a strong theme around belonging in the curriculum I always ask people; do you feel a sense of Cynefin here in Wales?

I do. I've grown up in Wales, went through school in Wales. I do feel Welsh. I went through a period, maybe in high school, where I struggled with my identity, not seeing many Black Welsh women around. But now, yes, I definitely feel rooted here and am proud of that.

What do you think it means to be Welsh?

It's like family. It's a homely, friendly place. It's the little things like Welsh cakes and warm Welsh hospitality. It's a feeling of belonging.

You mentioned in your book that you're inspired by your parents. Tell me a little bit about them and their heritage.

I'm a mix of many cultures. My mum is Jamaican, and my dad is Libyan. Our house was always lively and happy. They instilled in me and my sister confidence and pride, teaching us to hold our heads high and believe that we can do anything. Their influence has carried me through life, both professionally and personally. They always made sure we knew we belonged here, in Wales, while also being proud of our diverse heritage.

That's beautiful. I love that they taught you self-love.

Definitely. They role-modelled it. As adults, we have a responsibility to show self-love and confidence. It's important to demonstrate that you can take care of yourself and be proud of who you are.

Any plans for a new book?

Not a series yet, though a few people have asked me about it recently. I have some ideas for young adult books, especially for teen girls struggling with their identity and belonging. I'm always trying to write books that I would have wanted as a child.

Who inspires you? What kind of books do you like to read?

You mentioned her earlier, Jessica Dunrod. I think she’s amazing. Seeing her books in my classroom really excited the children. She was the first Black author I saw writing children's books that I could use in my teaching. As for me, I don't have as much time to read, but I do enjoy a good romance novel. It's my guilty pleasure.

You can purchase My Birthmark and Me from Amazon.

If you are a parents or educator, this book will help children to normalise distinguishing marks and open a conversation in a safe space.

Editors message:

Carrying out a regular children's book audit is a crucial process for ensuring that the literature available to young readers is diverse, inclusive, and representative of various cultures, identities, and experiences. Reviewing the books available in your library involves an evaluation of the presence and portrayal of characters from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as representations of gender, ability, and family structures.