Cincinnati Library’s new writer-in-residence is a mighty writer sharing diverse worlds

In Intisar Khanani’s six young adult books, the author focuses on strong girls. Historically, young girls read about role models who are politically powerful or physically strong. Intisar’s characters display “strengths we often dismiss,” she says, such as courage, determination, and persistence. Those skills carried Intisar through the process toward becoming the 2026 Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library Writer-in-Residence, sponsored by the library’s foundation. After applying twice, she broadened her reach into other literary endeavors, utilizing the same powers with which she imbues her characters in her YA fantasy adventure novels.

“I thought about what’s happening in my life,” Intisar says. “I wanted to do it in a year when I could dedicate the time, energy, and focus.” She was “floored” when someone from the selection committee called her back. “I thought it was only a follow-up question.”

While the application process was step-by-step, with friends helping before she faced a committee of nine interviewees, all “friendly book people,” Intisar’s path to writing and writing YA books reads more like a map.

Her childhood experiences include living in Saudi Arabia with parents who, as ex-pats, worked for an airline. “We’d often fly to somewhere like South Korea for the weekend.” Her classroom included “seventy nationalities and students from many different cultures—Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern. Yet, “we were all kids together.” She also has family in Pakistan and grew up around different parts of the United States.

The mantra for her work—writing mighty girls in diverse worlds—originates from that background. As a young girl reading YA novels, she was exposed to authors like Robin McKinley or Tamora Pierce, writers who didn’t have the same set of lived experiences as herself. Still, she was drawn to the fantasy adventures of “girls doing cool things.”

The reach of her novels stretches beyond her motto. Intisar points to the windows and mirrors theory, a term originating with Emily Style and further developed by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, that our stories should reflect the reader’s culture and identity while also offering a window into the experiences of others.

As for mighty, she wants to reinvent what it means to be strong. “What does it look like when a normal girl, one without superpowers or in a powerful role, saves the day?” Referring to the oft-dismissed attributes stated above, such characteristics “literally have the power to change the world, which is why we dismiss them. A lot of my stories are about reclaiming that.” For instance, one of her character’s missions involves old tax records, including hours of pouring over numbers. “Saving the world is not always glorious,” Intisar admits.

“If we only have one conception of what heroes look like, when we meet the battles of our life, we don’t have the kind of role models to pull from. Having diverse models to draw from as we face difficulties brings people strength.”

Intisar is passionate about finding the joy in the work—and in libraries. “I love the library. I’ve written 4 or 5 of my books at various branches of CHPL.” As writer-in-residence, she will host office hours and teach upcoming workshops about writers’ block, writing mighty girls, and tools for the intuitive writer. Her goal is to provide opportunities “to be more human together.”

Intisar’s YA binge never ended. Knowing she didn’t exist in many of the original worlds of young adult novels, “I taught myself to write diverse worlds,” which leads to her parting advice to “write the stories you want to write and make sure you do it well.”

For writer-in-residence workshop dates and office hours, visit the Cincinnati Public Library page.

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