Poet Saira Anwar rises from despair to publish powerful second collection

Saira Anwar is an educator, poet, author, content creator, and spoken word artist. She published her first poetry collection The Death of a Beautiful Dream in January 2014, which was featured on Amazon’s Top 20 Bestsellers list.

Over a decade in the making, Saira has now published her highly-anticipated second poetry collection Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope. We were honoured to speak to Saira ahead of the launch of her new book to explore her process, inspiration, and challenges she faced along the way.

1. A huge congratulations on the upcoming launch of your poetry book! Tell us all about it.

Thank you so much! My second poetry book is titled Rising From Despair: A Journey to Hope. It’s being released on Friday, June 27, 2025, and will be available in paperback and Kindle formats, with an audiobook to follow. Readers can purchase it through major platforms like Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith, The Guardian Bookshop, Foyles, Bookshop.org, Hive, Blackwells, and directly from the Partnership Publishing website.

This book is a continuation of the emotional and healing journey I began in my first collection, The Death of a Beautiful Dream. While my debut focused on heartbreak, betrayal, and the rawness of grief, Rising From Despair moves toward recovery, resilience, and rediscovery of self. It explores the deeper layers of healing after trauma, especially around marriage and divorce, and speaks to anyone who has ever had to rebuild after being broken.

My journey into poetry wasn’t something I planned. It was born out of pain. After a difficult marriage and its sudden end, I found myself dealing with trauma and silence. I started writing after a counselling session, simply to release what I couldn’t say out loud. That raw writing became poetry, and slowly, I began to find my voice again.

What inspires me most is the resilience of the human spirit, especially women who rise after being broken. I write to express truth, to shed light on pain, and to show that even in the darkest places, healing is possible. My poetry is a form of truth-telling. It’s my way of saying: you are not alone.

The writing process was deeply personal and emotionally layered. My editor Emma helped polish and refine the manuscript with her creative editing, ensuring the core message stayed intact while making the overall flow more cohesive for readers.

2. What can we expect from the second collection and how is it either different to or an expansion on the first book?

This second collection expands on the themes of grief and loss explored in my first book, but it moves in a new direction. It carries more hope, more light. If the first book was about breaking, this one is about rising. It's about the quiet strength we find in healing, the courage it takes to begin again, and the self-love we reclaim through that process.

The poems in Rising From Despair are more intimate and reflective. I’ve included journaling prompts to guide the reader into their own healing journey. It’s not just my story this time. It’s an invitation for the reader to explore their own.

3. What was different with the process of writing your second book compared to your first?

With the first book, the writing poured out of me in a state of raw emotion. It was urgent and necessary. The second time, I was more intentional. I had learned how to shape my poems without losing their honesty.

This time around, I was also thinking of the reader more deeply. I wanted each poem to feel like a conversation, a companion. That’s why I included the journaling prompts, so the reader can respond and reflect.

4. Tell us about your journey to becoming a poet. What drew you to writing poetry and what do you hope to express throughout your poetry? What inspires your poetry?

My journey started unexpectedly. I went through a very difficult time in my life, the end of my marriage, and found myself holding so much pain that I couldn’t express. After a counselling session, I began writing. I never intended to become a poet. I just needed to get the feelings out.

What began as journaling transformed into poetry. I realised that the more I wrote, the more I healed. And the more I shared, the more others felt seen. That’s what inspires me – the human capacity to survive, to feel deeply, and to rise.

My poetry is about truth. It’s about shedding the masks we wear and giving voice to the things we often hide. I’m especially drawn to writing about women’s inner lives, our strength, our heartbreak, and our ability to heal.

5. When writing poetry, do you feel like this is a healing journey for you? Especially with the difficult and personal topics you discuss, like marriage and divorce.

Absolutely. Writing is how I process everything. It allows me to look at the pain without being consumed by it. When I write about marriage or divorce, I’m not just retelling what happened. I’m transforming it. The page becomes a place where I can reclaim my voice, my power, and make sense of the chaos.

Sharing that vulnerability has also been part of the healing. I’ve had readers message me to say, “This is exactly how I felt, but didn’t know how to put it into words.” That shared connection is healing too.

6. What do you hope to express through your poetry, and what do you hope people take away from your writing?

I hope my poetry makes people feel less alone. I want readers to see themselves in my words, to feel held, understood, and inspired. Even when I write about pain, I always try to leave space for hope.

I want people to walk away from my work believing in their own resilience. That no matter what they’ve been through, healing is possible. That their voice matters.

7. What is your favourite poem from this book, if you can choose one, or the favourite poem you have ever written?

That’s such a tough question. Each poem feels like a different version of me, so choosing one is difficult. But if I had to pick from this book, The Mirror’s Truth is very special to me. It’s a poem about facing yourself fully – the beautiful, the broken, the becoming.

It’s the one I often come back to when I need to ground myself in truth and gentleness.

8. Were there any challenges in writing this book?

Yes, many. Emotionally, it required me to revisit some painful memories and sit with them long enough to write something honest. That takes a lot of energy.

There were also physical challenges. I underwent major surgery during the editing process, and recovery was tough. I had to learn how to pace myself, to write even when I felt weak, and to trust that the work would still come through.

But those challenges made the book even more meaningful. It’s a testament to resilience, not just in its content, but in its creation.

9. Do you have any advice for new poets making their way into the industry or poets who want to publish their own poetry collections?

Start writing for yourself. Don’t worry about form or perfection. Just write what feels true. Your voice matters, even if it doesn’t sound like anyone else’s.

When you’re ready to share your work, don’t be afraid to start small. Share on platforms like Instagram or Substack. Build a community. And when the time comes to publish, know that there are many paths – traditional publishing, indie publishers, or self-publishing. Do your research, trust your gut, and make sure your work feels authentic.

Also, find an editor you trust. Emma was that person for me. She helped refine my voice without diluting it.

10. Are you working on any new poetry? Are there more books in the future?

Yes, always. Poetry is part of my daily life now. I’m always writing new pieces and exploring themes of marriage, divorce, transformation, healing, and self-love in even more layered ways.

At the moment, my focus is on the new book. After this release, I’d love to explore the idea of a self-help book or a reflective companion to my poetry. I want to continue creating work that helps people feel seen, held, and healed.

11. What achievement as a writer are you most proud of?

I’m proud of the fact that I didn’t give up. That I turned one of the most painful experiences of my life into something that could help others.

Publishing my first book was a huge milestone, but hearing from readers who say my work gave them strength or comfort – that’s what I hold dearest. It means I’ve done something that matters.

A huge thank you to Saira for being so open and sharing her journey, inspiring others on their path towards self-discovery and healing.

You can find out more about Saira’s work and purchase her collections here: https://sairaanwar.co.uk/bio/

Poet Saira Anwar rises from despair to publish powerful second collection

TOPICS

INFO

CONNECT

Poet Saira Anwar rises from despair to publish powerful second collection

Saint Valentine channels "The Good" on latest wistful release

TOPICS

INFO

CONNECT