1. What inspired you to write this book? I grew up in Iraq and witnessed two wars and after we left in 1996 (due to political turmoil), a lot of events took place and have shaped the way Iraq looks now. The area has experienced a significant amount of conflict that has deep historical roots. I have come to the realization that we must understand history to be able to better understand today's events and to find a way out of conflicts. I have dedicated a lot of writing focus to writing history through fiction with attention to the human side of war so often forgotten and overlooked. Between being an Iraqi from Kurdish minority and then being an immigrant and a proud U.S. citizen now, I feel I have an obligation to tell my side of the story and to better bring the real pictures of history to readers.
2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? The story in general is about 100 years of Iraq's
modern history through a Baghdadi family across three generations. It has two
parallel stories: NOW: features the refugee crisis in 2021 at the
Poland-Belarus borders where Faisal (a young Iraqi man from Baghdad who fled
his country after suffering a lot of loss in the post-2003 events) is
approached by an elderly Kurdish Iraqi woman who is also a stranded immigrant
who has lost her family at the border. Her missing family consists of her
daughter-in-law and three children. One of those three children suffers from a
blood disorder and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant abroad. As Faisal
attempts to help this woman find her missing family, he also reflects back on
his extended family's history going back to the beginning of the modern Iraq
era in 1921. That is the NOW part. In the NOW part, the story starts with
Faisal's grandfather who was born in 1921, the same year the first King of Iraq
was appointed and whose name was King Faisal, and hence the newborn was named
after him. Events take place across generations until the grandson, Faisal, is
born along with his twin in the late 1980s. Between that time and 2003, the
family goes through a lot of challenges, finally exploding after 2003 when
their father, a known ex-military officer, is stripped of his ranks and
mistakenly attacked. This leads to rapid events, which cause significant loss
and destruction to Faisal's family and home. Eventually, Faisal falls in love
with a young Iraqi girl (a book seller in the most popular street in Baghdad/Al
Mutanabbi) and this romance gets complicated when Faisal decides to leave Iraq.
The question is: is Faisal able to help the elderly woman reunite with her
missing family? Does the child get a chance at a lifesaving transplant? Does
Faisal make it to Europe? What happens to his relationship with his love back
in Baghdad?
3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I want readers to get a good understanding of
Iraq's modern history, which will help them understand the events that have
been taking place since 2003. I also want readers to be able to see the human
side of the Iraqi people who have been forced to live through wars and conflict
and adjust to trauma and loss. Finally, I want readers to be able to connect
with the rich history of Iraq beyond just the political conflicts.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? As an Iraqi, the Tigris holds a significant
meaning in our eyes, as it runs through Baghdad and carries life through many
cities and across the body of Iraq. Throughout history, civilizations have come
and gone through Baghdad and very often, the main cause of their demise was of
their own doing, just as the main reason for their success was from their own
making. I look at Iraq and see that whatever we Iraqis believe in and decide to
practice is like seeds we throw in the Tigris, which then runs under Baghdad
with its waters, eventually either giving back the good or the bad, based on
the seeds we threw in the Tigris waters. As for the cover design, I spent
months with the designer, trying to come up with the best depiction of the
story. In the cover design, the grandfather Faisal is standing by the window,
his famous Baghdad hat next to him, as he looks and sees the past near while
the present is more distant in his vision. This is how each Iraq feels now: the
past being more close and peaceful while the sad present more distant to the
heart.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other
than run!? We have an obligation to the readers to bring
history to them through an objective lens. Through this lens, we allow them to
see events as they happened (with our creativity) and then it is up to them to
decide what is right and what is wrong.
6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book
publishing industry is heading? I think with the audiovisual advancements,
less people might be turning to printed books, but at the end of the day,
written words carry heavy weight. Also, it is imperative that writers attempt
to keep up with advancements to make sure readers don't get deprived of their
creativity.
7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy
when writing this book? Yes. As a child, I lived through two wars. I
remember when we had to run for safety due to bombs and air raids. I remember
when we had to train, as kids, how to use gas masks. I remember when we had to
run to the mountains, running away from the armies. I also remember when my
family had to be evacuated at night and brought to the US because my father was
an interpreter with a US non-profit relief organization. I also remember
when in 2003, my family had to worry about our family and loved ones back in
Baghdad as the war was heating up.
8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your
writing similar to? I like to captivate the reader from the first
chapter. I like to create the impact and then let the readers settle in. I find
my attention to describing details to be closer to Khalid Husseini.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? As a full time physician, a husband, and
father of three children, I had to maintain a balance.
10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be
yours? With all the conflicts
happening around the world, especially in the middle east, I feel a reader
could really benefit from this book with a perspective of how things operate in
that area and how people usually respond to events and conflict.
About The Author: Dr. Zaid Brifkani is an American physician
from Iraqi Kurdish descent. He specializes in dialysis and kidney
transplantation with a lifelong passion for writing. His debut novel "The
Mountains We Carry" was released in November 2021. He lives in Nashville
with his wife and three children. Growing up in Iraq, Brifkani witnessed many traumatic
experiences of war, migration, and political turmoil, which have highlighted
his dedication to writing about the negative impact of wars and political
struggles. Please see: AMAZON BOOK PAGE
Need
Book Marketing Help?
Brian Feinblum, the founder of this
award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available
to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He
has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in
all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!
Read
This!
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/15-workshops-for-writers.html
The 27-Point Author Brand Checklist
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-27-point-author-brand-checklist.html
9
Book Publishing Trends To Watch Closely
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/9-book-publishing-trends-to-watch.html
12
Online Tips & Resources To Market Your Book
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/12-online-tips-resources-to-market-your.html
What Does Book Marketing Mean To Authors?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/what-does-book-marketing-mean-to-authors.html
Does
Book Publishing Have A Man Problem?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/does-book-publishing-have-man-problem.html
Interview With Author & Business Book
Strategist Cathy Fyock
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/interview-with-author-business-book.html
Your Are A Writer!
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/you-are-writer.html
11
Steps To Getting A Novel Published
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/11-steps-to-getting-novel-published.html
The Book Marketing Solution Already
Exists
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-book-marketing-solution-already.html
How Can Authors Make Money From
Blogging?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/how-can-authors-make-money-from-blogging.html
12 Book Marketing Assets That Don’t
Require Training, Money, Or Talent
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/12-book-marketing-assets-that-require.html
Hall-of-Fame
Speaker Gives Authors Speaking Tips
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/hall-of-fame-speaker-gives-authors.html
About Brian Feinblum
Brian Feinblum should be followed on LinkedIn. This is
copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now
resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue
dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The
Writer and IBPA’s The Independent. This
award-winning blog has generated over 3.4 million pageviews. With 4,600+ posts
over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by
BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018
as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by
www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades,
including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book
publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with
many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with
best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen,
Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard,
Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C.
Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a
panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA,
Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction
Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland)
Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association.
His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News
(Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The
Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult:
www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.