Exploring the Mind of Sukainah Fareed, Author of Untold

Q. How did you come up with the title of your book? I came up with the title Unfold because I wanted a single word that could hold the feeling of being in a difficult place, when you don’t know how to move forward, when everything feels heavy, unclear, or like you are sinking into the unknown.

I needed a word that didn’t just describe the pain but also the movement through it.

For me, Unfold is about loving yourself exactly where you feel stuck. It’s not a destination or a sudden breakthrough; it’s a process. You unfold when you are okay to stay with your pain to understand it, when you resolve what keeps you stuck, and learn from the experience. This process shapes you.

You move from one version of yourself to another.

The first version is the one that did not know a way out.

And then, when you go through what you are meant to go through, you learn and you realize, so you become someone new. Someone who carries more clarity, more courage, and a softness that can lift you into whatever comes next.

That becoming felt like unfolding. So that became the title. Q. What inspired you to write this book? Not giving up on myself inspired me to write this book. Choosing to stay with my own struggles instead of abandoning myself showed me how powerful it is to keep going even when it feels impossible.

I also wanted to offer my presence to anyone going through something similar. If my words can hold someone for even a moment or make them feel less alone, that is enough reason for Unfold to exist.

And I love writing. I love sharing love through words. That, too, inspired me, and I am grateful for it. Q. Among all themes and topics, why did you choose this one in particular? I chose this theme because self-transformation is the starting point of everything. What you want to build, change, or become in life begins from within you. When a person looks within, understands themselves, reflects on where they are, and becomes willing to grow, that is when their whole life starts to move in a new direction. This inner shift is the base for every step you take after that, and that is why I chose this theme for Unfold. That is why this theme felt important for Unfold. The topics in Unfold are all a part of the process. They help you unfold into who you want to become. Q. What personal experiences have shaped your writing the most? My writing shaped from the places I survived, the clarity I gained, the research I did to understand, the lessons I learned, and the love I grew to give myself along the way. Q. What does being a published author mean to you, beyond seeing your words in print? Being an author makes me feel like I have shown up for myself in a way I always wanted to. I am grateful that my words can travel, that they can hold someone even for a moment, and that something I created has places beyond me. That is what being a published author means to me. Q. What can we, as readers expect from this book? Readers move through this book feeling guided at every stage. The poems trace uncertainty, growth, reflection, and strength, reminding you that forward motion is possible even when life feels heavy. As you read, you start to see how each piece fits into a larger arc of becoming.

To echo that idea, I introduced a new technique called the It’s All Connected Form. The final poem, It’s All Connected, is composed entirely from the titles of all the previous poems. Each title stands alone, but together they form a complete poem that mirrors the full journey. It’s a way to show that every stage of growth links to the next, and nothing in that process is separate or wasted. Q. How do you expect your readers to use this book optimally? I hope readers use this book slowly and intentionally. Unfold is not meant to be rushed through, it is meant to be felt. The poems work best when read in moments of quiet, reflection, or when you’re trying to understand what you’re feeling. Each piece has its own purpose, so giving yourself time with it allows the message to settle in and meet you where you are.

You can use this book as a companion on days when you feel stuck, confused, or unsure of your next step. You can open it to any poem, or walk through it in order, whatever feels right in that moment. What matters is that you read it with honesty toward yourself, noticing what resonates with you and why. The more gently you engage with it, the more it will reflect back the parts of your journey that you’re ready to see.

Ultimately, I hope readers use Unfold as a space to breathe, to understand themselves, and to remember that growth is possible. Not through force, but through awareness, patience, and the willingness to take one step at a time.