Sarah Gilani is a licensed pharmacist who loves reading to her daughter. She is a huge lover of tea, especially herbal blends, and she loves incorporating it into every aspect of life. Whether she is cooking, doing art, caring for her plants, or enjoying the outdoors, a cup of tea is always in hand.
Zina Pasha Ali is a California-credentialed elementary school teacher, an educational content creator, and a mother to two boys. She has loved any and all kinds of tea since childhood, but her ultimate favorite is karak chai, which she drinks every morning. Ask her what she loves most, and she’ll say cozying up with family and friends over a shared pot of tea and something sweet.
Sarah and Zina have been best friends since childhood, when they spent hours dreaming up silly stories together. Now, as mothers, they’ve turned their lifelong love of storytelling into a shared mission: writing books that bring young children joy. Whether it’s teatime or bedtime, they’re always on the hunt for the next great story to share with their own kids—and now, with yours.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
Sarah Gilani (SG): Our love of writing stories together, along with our love of tea and what teatime represents across cultures, were definitely the main inspirations for our book. We wanted parents to have a way to share their love of tea with their children with a cute, whimsical story that would educate families on diversity, inclusion, and, of course, different types of delicious tea from around the world!
Zina Pasha Ali (ZPA): Being an educator, having young children of my own, and my deep love of books and tea. I dreamed of creating fun, silly books full of color for young children to develop their love of reading. Another inspiration was working with my best friend. We got to bring out our creativity and tie it to our favorite hobby: sharing a cup of tea with our loved ones.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
ZPA: Start with what you know and are most passionate and excited about. Never give up, and keep on writing and drafting until your heart is happy.
Q: What is your favorite book?
SG: The Wheel of Time series.
ZPA: Sooooo many! One of my favorite books is Three Cups of Tea, which is a story about a mountaineer’s attempt to climb K2 in Pakistan. He falls ill and isn’t able to, but he has encounters with the locals, and they become very close. Most recently, I’ve been enjoying reading some thrillers by Frieda McFadden, as well as a lot of Froggy, Wild Kratts, and Curious George books with my eldest son.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
SG: We have several characters, all equally represented, who are modeled after our favorite teas.
ZPA: Not a person, particularly. However, we did name our characters after real types of tea that Sarah and I both enjoy.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
SG: Since we write children’s picture books, working with the illustrator to bring our story to life is definitely my favorite part!
ZPA: Honestly, all of it! Drafting ideas with Sarah, my best friend, in the beginning was so fun. We got to be so creative. I also loved working with Maha, our illustrator, and seeing our story and characters come to life.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
SG: Both! It’s the same concept as nature and nurture. Passion is what’s most important. Have fun with it!
ZPA: I believe it is and can be both.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
SG: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” —Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
ZPA: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” —Robert Frost
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
SG: Yes. We plan to make a Best-Teas! book series!
ZPA: Yes! We are turning this book into a series! Stay tuned. :)
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
SG: I don’t look up to any particular author. I am in awe of all authors who bring wonder to the world with their amazing storytelling abilities and imaginations.
ZPA: I don’t look up to any particular author. However, I truly respect all of them. Writing takes effort, dedication, creativity, and so much more. I love reading different books from different genres, and all are so special.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
SG: I’ll pick five series: Harry Potter, The Wheel of Time, Sevenwaters, Shannara, and The Hunger Games. All of these books had me hooked and reading late into the night!
ZPA: My five:
- Pride and Prejudice
- The Harry Potter series
- The Housemaid series
- A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Anne of Green Gables
Learn more about Sarah Gilani and Zina Pasha Ali and their debut children's book, Best-Teas!, here. Coming soon November 24, 2026!