Farzana Doctor and Vivek Shraya are the authors, respectively of

Six Metres of Pavement (Dundurn, $22.95 pb)

and God Loves Hair ($20 pb).

The novel Six Metres of Pavement, tells the story of Ismail Boxwala, a man still suffering a horrible tragic mistake he made twenty years ago. His life begins to change after he reluctantly befriends two women: Fatima, a queer activist kicked out of her parents' home; and Celia, his grieving Portuguese-Canadian neighbour who lives six metres away. A slow-simmering romance develops between Ismail and Celia. Meanwhile, dangers lead Fatima to his doorstep.

God Loves Hair is a collection of 20 short stories following a tender, intellectual, and curious child as he navigates complex realms of sexuality, gender, racial politics, religion, and belonging. Told with the poignant insight and honesty that only the voice of a young mind can convey, the stories are accompanied by the award-winning illustrations of Toronto artist Juliana Neufeld.

Daayiee is a scholar, a former public interest lawyer and a specialist in Shari'ah Sciences/Quranic Interpretation. He frequently lectures internationally on progressive Muslim concepts, intra-faith and interfaith networking and the development of inclusive revisions of Islamic theological thought and interpretations of shari'ah and fiqh (Islamic law). He has long been involved in actively promoting understanding and awareness of issues of racial, gender and sexual equality both within and beyond Muslim communities.
Daayiee is the Director of LGBT Outreach for Muslims for Progressive Values, Organizer of MPV-DC, and Imam and Education Director at Masjid el-Tawhid An-Nur Al-Isslaah (Mosque for Enlightenment and Reformation). His new book Questions and Answers for Queer Muslims will hit the marketplace in fall of 2012.

Co-sponsored with the Philadelphia chapter of Muslims for Progressive Values.