About

Sara Bawany is an award-winning poet, two-time author, clinical social worker, and creative writing instructor based in Austin, TX. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Texas State University, and previously graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with her Master’s in Social Work and her Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Islamic Studies. She holds a Journal to the Self Certification, as well as certificates in Nonprofit Management and Project Management.

Sara's first poetry book, (w)holehearted: a collection of poetry and prose, was self-published in September 2018 and won Daybreak Press Publishing’s 2019 “Best Poetry Book” award. Her second book, Quarter Life Crisis, was published with FlowerSong Press in October 2023, with one of its poems nominated for a Pushcart Prize. In December 2024, she co-edited and published her first community anthology, Threads of Palestine Anthology through House of Amal, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. 

Sara was selected as a finalist for Austin’s first Poet Laureate program as well as for Button Poetry’s 2021 Annual Chapbook Contest. Her work has been featured twice on TEDx, ACLU TX, The Texas Observer, Infrarrealista Review, Muslim Youth Musings literary magazine and more, including Seventh Wave Magazine, who also nominated one of her poems for a 2024 Pushcart Prize. She has spoken and performed at over 100 different engagements both in her social work capacity and as a poet. 

Sara is the Co-Founder of and Lead Writing Instructor at House of Amal, which is a craft and community-focused institution to empower and teach Muslim writers. She manages her own private practice and provides mental health counseling as a licensed clinical social worker. When not juggling a busy teaching, writing, facilitation, or therapy schedule, you will find her tending to her garden, adding a new read to Sara’s Bookshelf, attempting a new recipe, or itching for (and finding) a new side quest.