Stop Killing Your Darlings | Saleema Ishq | TEDxABQ

Author Saleema Ishq, a psychological thriller writer, talks about a lifelong struggle with existential fears that she found too strange and uncomfortable to share. In this TEDxABQ talk she explains the role these fears have played in shaping her writing career. Ishq's debut novel, Sisters Arcana, was a finalist for the New Mexico Book Awards and her forthcoming thriller, Dig Deeper, is slated for Fall 2026.

• Personal account of hidden existential fears
• How those fears influenced a thriller-writing career
• Background on the speaker's books and awards
• Independently organized TEDx event

Author Saleema Ishq reframes her strangest, most hidden fears as the surprising secret behind her thriller-writing career. Saleema Ishq is a psychological thriller author whose debut novel, Sisters Arcana, was a finalist for the New Mexico Book Awards and nominated for Best Thriller in the Indieverse Awards. A two-time Top 5 nominee for Top Author in the New Mexico Entertainment Awards, her forthcoming thriller Dig Deeper releases Fall 2026. In her talk, Saleema opens up about a lifelong struggle with existential fears too strange and uncomfortable to share — and reveals the surprising role those very fears have played in shaping her career. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx