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The event began with Martis reading from the epilogue of They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up and Al-Solaylee reading from the introduction of Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From.

Why do you choose to do this work?

Martis shared that during her undergraduate education at Western University, people often told her to prepare to be broke if she wanted to be a writer. Despite this, Martis brought her experience of being a woman of colour on a very white, Christian, conversative campus to her memoir. She was attuned to how people interacted with her and her friends; they were objectified. She didn鈥檛 see herself represented in the texts of her coursework鈥攅xcept in her electives. Martis embarked on this book during her time at Western because she knew her experiences were 鈥渋mportant鈥� and 鈥減ersonal,鈥� even though no one was talking about these issues. She also mentioned that people sharing their experiences of race, gender and violence are often met with comments requiring proof. Writing and conducting research for her memoir allowed her 鈥渢o help people change their minds about deeply held beliefs.鈥�

Al-Solaylee spent 13 years as a journalist before undertaking his first personal piece. He shared his experiences about moving to the West from the Middle East as a proud gay man in his 20s in Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes. Like Martis, Al-Solaylee wanted people to know his experience of being brown, what that means, and the concept of brownness. Recent events filled with acts of hate have 鈥渇orced [him] to rethink his resting place and where [he calls] home.鈥� Additionally, as a former theatre critic, he finds himself thinking about his retirement鈥攖he 鈥渇inal act.鈥� As such, he opens his most recent book with the question, 鈥淲here do you want to be buried?鈥� Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Came From grapples with end-of-life questions including how to pass time, reconnection with family, and the land he left behind.

How have writing and journalism influenced your identity?

Both authors stated that personal writing allowed them to become fully aware of their experiences and properly address their emotions.

鈥淲riting a memoir helped me understand who I am,鈥� said Al-Solaylee. He shared that he did not understand how his sexuality motivated him, nor was he aware of the fear he felt as a gay man, but his sexuality influenced everything he did.

Similarly, Martis explained that writing helped her realize she was not angry about her experiences at Western, she was fearful. 

How do you navigate mobility when sharing your story?

Having a strong support system is key.

Al-Solaylee said, 鈥淔inding people who have your back is important.鈥�

Martis told us that her support system opened to other writers once she wrote her book and emphasized that 鈥渉aving people who are genuinely proud of you is really important.鈥�

What words do you have for aspiring writers?

Martis encouraged aspiring writers to read as much as they can, and read the type of writing they want to write to get a sense of the structure. She also noted the importance of writing every day, whether a lot or a little, to keep the momentum going.

Al-Solaylee added that you should read underrepresented voices, read writing about writing, and never stop learning.