Book
About a week ago, my father and I were waiting in line to attend a movie in the Vancouver International Film Festival. We were chatting in Arabic, when the man standing behind us asked us "Where are you guys from". Iraq! we answered in unison. The young man replied about how bad he feels about what is going on in Iraq and some other blah blah that most Canadians tend to say when they hear the word Iraq. My dad and I glanced at each other and thought "Here we go again .... yes yes, we feel bad about it too, we are sorry that mentioning our country of origin makes you feel sad". But the young man was polite and seemed eager to chat and so my dad and I were happy to engage him in a discussion. Pretty soon we started talking about Iraqi culture and geography. Then the young man asked "Can you give me the name of a famous Iraqi author?". I paused to think about all the Iraqi novels I have read attempting to pick a good recommendation for this young man, but my dad jumped in and said without hesitation "My daughter, right here" and he pointed a finger at me.
My face turned red, I started to shake my head in denial, "No no no". The young man's eyes widened and he asked in excitement "Are you an author?". "Errrrr, well!, not really, errrr, I have a book coming out in a couple of weeks".
It was the first time that I came close to calling myself an author. Thank you dad for outing me like this. Ok I do have a book, here it is:
For three years I have been walking around with this secret inside my head. More like a wish or a dream. Very few people knew about my little secret and I kept it mostly to myself. This thing grew and mutated and changed and then it turned into reality that is ready to come out into the world.
I can't describe the emotions that I feel right now. The closest I can describe it is that I feel like I had just given birth to a baby. At times I feel moments of intense joy, "Oh! my god! this is really happening", I say to myself. Other times I feel intense fear and anxiety, "Oh my god! people will read it, what if it is a miserable failure, what if it is a success, both options terrify me". It reminds of the hormonal phase following a birth. Sometimes I laugh for no reason, other times I cry for no reason. I am walking around with a feeling of emptiness.
Hello World! I don't know if I am ready for this, but I present to you my baby, he is orange, kinda cute and very innocent. I present to you
Don't Shoot! ... I have another story to tell you
By Elen Ghulam
ISBN 1430302011
If you live in Vancouver, then you are invited to the book launch party
November 4th, 4 pm,
Palestinian Community Center.
1874 Kingsway Vancouver.
For all of you who would like to link to the book on your blog I present to you an assortment of links you can use below, but any link or any mention of this book on your websites would be appreciated. Simply copy and paste from one of the text boxes below into your website.
<<<<<<<<< sample html code >>>>>>>>>>>>>
Large image with link to amazon like earlier in the post
Small image with link to amazon
Text link like this: Don't Shoot! ... I have another story to tell you
Small image with link to Powells bookstore
My face turned red, I started to shake my head in denial, "No no no". The young man's eyes widened and he asked in excitement "Are you an author?". "Errrrr, well!, not really, errrr, I have a book coming out in a couple of weeks".
It was the first time that I came close to calling myself an author. Thank you dad for outing me like this. Ok I do have a book, here it is:
For three years I have been walking around with this secret inside my head. More like a wish or a dream. Very few people knew about my little secret and I kept it mostly to myself. This thing grew and mutated and changed and then it turned into reality that is ready to come out into the world.
I can't describe the emotions that I feel right now. The closest I can describe it is that I feel like I had just given birth to a baby. At times I feel moments of intense joy, "Oh! my god! this is really happening", I say to myself. Other times I feel intense fear and anxiety, "Oh my god! people will read it, what if it is a miserable failure, what if it is a success, both options terrify me". It reminds of the hormonal phase following a birth. Sometimes I laugh for no reason, other times I cry for no reason. I am walking around with a feeling of emptiness.
Hello World! I don't know if I am ready for this, but I present to you my baby, he is orange, kinda cute and very innocent. I present to you
Don't Shoot! ... I have another story to tell you
By Elen Ghulam
ISBN 1430302011
If you live in Vancouver, then you are invited to the book launch party
November 4th, 4 pm,
Palestinian Community Center.
1874 Kingsway Vancouver.
For all of you who would like to link to the book on your blog I present to you an assortment of links you can use below, but any link or any mention of this book on your websites would be appreciated. Simply copy and paste from one of the text boxes below into your website.
<<<<<<<<< sample html code >>>>>>>>>>>>>
Large image with link to amazon like earlier in the post
Small image with link to amazon
Text link like this: Don't Shoot! ... I have another story to tell you
Small image with link to Powells bookstore
There is a way between voice and presence where information flows.
In disciplined silence it opens.
With wandering talk it closes. .... Rumi
7:47 AMDear Ihath,
Congratulations!
Later...
12:38 PM
good for you!
Hana
5:47 AM
well done! congratulations ihath thats wonderful =)
6:54 AM
Dear Ihath,
Thanks for the really good news!
I am reading your blog for almost 3 years now. Don't look it up that often (well, you also don't write that often anymore), but then read all the contributions, which you posted in the meantime - and also the reactions.
Only at a very early stage I sent you an e-mail once (at that time one could only send you an email - public reactions were not possible yet).
Now, after also reading the previous entry (Writer) and recalling more than just a few really bad and dirty public reactions in the past, I feel quite guilty. To compensate a little bit for it, here my positive feedback. One from the quiet crowd, which in the vast majority is positive I believe and therefore normally doesn't comment.
I confess that I like your blog. Appreciate your courage to boldly say what you think and love your style of writing. Keep up the good work and don't give up!
E.
P.S.: Of course I will buy the book!
(what a pity that I can't be in Vancouver on 4 November)
8:52 PM
Hey Elen,
I'm proud to be able to say I know the author of this fine book! How do I know that it's a fine book when I haven't read it yet? Well, for one thing I read your blog, so I have some idea what to expect. For another, I've talked to you, so I know it's going to be smart and funny. And finally, well....sometimes you just CAN judge a book by its cover!
:-)
Congratulations, Famous Iraqi Author – I'm looking forward to the book launch!
8:18 PM
Hi Ihath
Just got your email about this (no, I haven't checked it in ages) which reminded me to look up your blog again and read what you'd written about yourself.
Good on you but I was horrified to discover your husband's academic career has been stifling your voice.
Come on woman! He's an academic and works with academics - they expect you to speak your mind (besides, he'll wonder what happened to the woman he married if you self censor).
emigre.
8:22 PM
Oops, 'discover' link got edited out, I was referring to your post;
ihath.com/2006/11/blog-that-nobody-reads
10:15 PM
Hello. And Bye.
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