Ask the Author: Jean Sasson
Answered Questions (14)
Jean Sasson
Hi, MayuCh, Thanks so much for your question -- and, for your very kind words about Mayada, Daughter of Iraq.
In this case, I was mainly interested in Mayada's experiences while in prison in Saddam's Iraq, as few people knew exactly what happened to Iraqis imprisoned in Iraq during those days of a ruling dictator. In fact, I knew Mayada well so I asked her many questions and she responded to those questions. I believe that when writing someone's story, that the writer should always pursue where the answers of the subject lead. For example, when Mayada told me that the other prisoners were curious and wanted to know the details of Mayada's life -- as she was from a very prominent Iraqi family -- I asked her to dig deep in her memory and tell me the same stories that she told the other female prisoners. This she did. So I believe that there should not be a list of questions and the writer only take the answers to the first questions and write the book, but that the writer should listen carefully and when the subject's answer leads to another question, that question should be asked, too. Thus the stories expand, giving the reader a much wider horizon. Mayada's story started out as a prison story, but ended up revealing so much about Iraq and Iraqis that existed outside those prison walls... Thanks again, and a most happy day wished for you! Jean
In this case, I was mainly interested in Mayada's experiences while in prison in Saddam's Iraq, as few people knew exactly what happened to Iraqis imprisoned in Iraq during those days of a ruling dictator. In fact, I knew Mayada well so I asked her many questions and she responded to those questions. I believe that when writing someone's story, that the writer should always pursue where the answers of the subject lead. For example, when Mayada told me that the other prisoners were curious and wanted to know the details of Mayada's life -- as she was from a very prominent Iraqi family -- I asked her to dig deep in her memory and tell me the same stories that she told the other female prisoners. This she did. So I believe that there should not be a list of questions and the writer only take the answers to the first questions and write the book, but that the writer should listen carefully and when the subject's answer leads to another question, that question should be asked, too. Thus the stories expand, giving the reader a much wider horizon. Mayada's story started out as a prison story, but ended up revealing so much about Iraq and Iraqis that existed outside those prison walls... Thanks again, and a most happy day wished for you! Jean
Jean Sasson
Hi Hiba, Thanks for your question as this is important for readers to know. First of all, the four of the five PRINCESS books do have veiled women on the cover, but in fact, I never met but one Saudi woman who did not veil, although I know now that some Saudi women living in Jeddah do not veil, while women still veil in the rest of the country. And, most of the Saudi women I knew personally, did wear beautiful veils and their eyes were made up and they looked very lovely, so this look is typical of a princess living in Saudi Arabia. The books written about Joanna Al-Askari (LOVE IN A TORN LAND) is a full-face shot without a veil, as Joanna is half-Kurd and never veiled in her life. So, the cover image is actually Joanna in person, and represents how she looks when she goes to a party -- as you probably know, Kurdish women wear very colorful clothes, particularly to parties. The book about Maryam (FOR THE LOVE OF A SON) is also the true image of Maryam (Afhan) -- there is no veil, although there is a beautiful scarf. The only cover which does not truly represent the heroine is the image on MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ. When I went to Iraq, I saw that the majority of women in Baghdad, did NOT veil. Mayada, who was very devout, did wear the Hijab, but did not cover her face, which is believes not to be required in Islam (I agree with her). We submitted photographs of Mayada to the publisher and asked that she be on the cover, but when the publisher took the book to market, getting their orders from bookstores, most refused to purchase the book to sell unless the cover was changed to show a more exotic image. That is how the current image of MAYADA came to be on the book cover. We were not too happy, but once the book is sold to a publisher, the publisher has to do what they need to do to sell the book -- it is a business and the beautiful & exotic Arab woman is very pleasing to look at, although it does not represent all women in the area, for sure. (The author does not have the right to refuse the publisher's cover.) I hope this explains it more fully for many readers. But, when you read the above, you will see that of the 13 books I have written, only one does not reflect exactly the life of the woman I wrote about. (And, that one is Mayada -- although now it is more common for women in Iraq to wear the veil due to the uprising of more conservative movement in that country.) So you see, the Princess books reflect exactly what the women wear (mainly for parties) in Saudi Arabia, while the other books do the same, other than MAYADA. I hope this makes you feel somewhat better. Certainly the true stories of these women should not be undermined when the cover is fairly representative of the lives of the individual women written about. And, for sure, although not every Arab woman is beautiful, so many are -- with their compelling beautiful dark hair, eyes, and olive skin, they tend to look very beautiful..
Jean Sasson
I admit that when dealing with a depressing topic that the writer will be affected. I sometimes weep when writing certain stories that are in the books. I sobbed when writing about Sarah in MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ. And, I had many tears to flow when writing about some of the girls/women in the PRINCESS books, and I became so depressed when writing YASMEENA'S CHOICE that I could barely function. But this is part of the writing process. If a writer does not have empathy, I cannot imagine writing a book filled with feelings and emotions that touches the reader. Good luck on your project!
Jean Sasson
Hi Willie, Probably not, but only because my publishers say that mainly women buy books and that books written focusing on men do not sell to my readers... Sad, though, as the story you describe sounds very intriguing. You should write it yourself -- I think it would garner a lot of interest. Good luck and so sorry about this situation. Do you get to hear from him? Is he all right? I would think it would be more difficult to keep a man from contacting his wife than a woman from contacting her husband under the same set of circumstances. Write to me at jeansasson@msn.com as I'd love to hear the outcome of your story!
Jean Sasson
Princess Sultana was very sad about the death of King Abdullah, but she is looking to the future and hoping for even better things to come under King Salman, who is part of her family.
Jean Sasson
I've only written one historical fiction book, (ESTER'S CHILD) and I was a student to of history my entire life and a huge point of interest was World War II, along with the formation of the Israeli state, the Jewish people targeted by Hitler, as well as Palestine and its people, so I had a lot of knowledge about the premise of the book prior to writing. However, I did refresh my memory by reading books of Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, as well as people from Palestine who lost their homes during the 1948 war with Israel and ended up living in refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan, and other countries in the region. It's good to be totally finally with a subject before attempting writing a historical fiction book. I love that genre and hope to return to it one day.
Jean Sasson
All of my books are set in the Middle East and my heroines (or hero) are Arab people.
Jean Sasson
No. I'm fortunate that I am not a person who is easily frightened. I don't worry about such things. I do what I think is best and then whatever happens, happens! I'll face it when it comes to me!
Jean Sasson
Princess Sultana and I had been talking about book 4 in the series for a few years, but I always said things had to change in Saudi Arabia before we tackled another book. And, social change that benefits women is occurring in Saudi Arabia, so the time had come to continue her struggle, and the struggle of other Saudi women to create a better life for all girls and women in Saudi Arabia.
Jean Sasson
When a really important story comes my way, I am instantly inspired to "get going" and get that story written so the world will know about it.
Jean Sasson
At the moment I have five books on the drawing board. I will be able to discuss the next project soon, I hope, but for now, I'm not certain between two of the five projects...
Jean Sasson
I believe that self-discipline is the most imperative thing to achieve success in writing. Other factors are important, but nothing more important than getting up every day, and sitting in that chair, and facing an empty page on the computer and getting to work! Sometimes that is very hard, but if you don't write, there will be no book.
Jean Sasson
It's great to feel a passion for something, and I feel a true passion for wanting to get important stories out. What is more important than the human rights of women? Therefore, I feel I bring awareness to readers and that is a wonderful feeling and the best thing about being a writer.
Jean Sasson
Luckily, I've never suffered from writer's block. While there are times I put off getting to work, once I sit down and start writing, writer's block is not a problem.
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