Intisar Khanani's Blog, page 7

Fantastic Creatures Anthology Release and Scavenger Hunt!

It’s Here!

I’m so excited to have a story coming out in the Fantastic Creatures Anthology–which releases today! In celebration, we’re having a Scavenger Hunt with a super cool prize. Each of the twenty stories in the anthology focuses around a fantastic creature from folklore, myth, or urban legend. My contribution, Seekers, prays tribute to the stories of selkies (and brides stolen from the sea, which, if you know anything about me, you’ll know I would not approve of).

You can find out more about Seekers by hunting out my post in the Scavenger Hunt–it’s being hosted by another author. Visit all the stops and collect the clues–a number featured in each post–and you could win a Kindle Fire, plus a digital library of e-books from participating authors. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to find out how to enter.

Skin Deep – Morgan Smith

I’m not really much of a short story writer.

I’ve only written a handful of them: when I’d finished my first novel, I’d never written a short story in my life, and other, more experienced authors seemed amazed that I had jumped past the “apprenticeship” notion of learning to write by doing short pieces first.

“You’re brave,” one of them said to me. But that wasn’t accurate – I think short stories are a completely different kettle of fish, and are actually much harder than novels. Novels give you room for error. Short stories – you need to be right on point from the very first word.

But this one – well, I wanted to participate, for starters, but it actually came easily. I had just finished researching fairy-tale/folk tale stuff because I was trying to grasp how legends and folk tales warp and change through time in order to create a mythic tale that generated a plot point in a novel I’m working on, and the Scandinavian folk tale that “Skin Deep” is based on had stuck in my mind.

The thing about most on-line stuff about folk and fairy tales is they only give you a bare-bones outline. And that leaves you very free to re-shape, flesh out and reinvent them – to spin them, if you like, into something quite unique.

And that’s basically all I did: I took the idea of Beauty and the Beast (which is all that the original tale was, when you strip it down) and gave it a mild update to the 1800’s, and a heroine who is just desperate enough to try the unthinkable to save herself.

A Giveaway Just For You!

Morgan has been awesome enough to offer a giveaway just for readers who come by this Scavenger Hunt stop–a copy of her novel, Casting in Stone.

They said ill winds blew at her back. They said she was cursed, a hex, a jinx, a hissing in the dark. And it was true: everywhere she went, no matter what she did, misfortune seemed to follow in her wake. But that, of course, wasn’t the worst of it.

The evil that seemed to track Caoimhe throughout her life had caused so many tragedies. She fled her old life, trying to lose herself in anonymity , but the unholy circumstances of her birth, and the machinations of those who sought to use her existence to further their own schemes followed her still. Can she overcome a long-dead evil and finally be free?

Enter coupon code VL74M at checkout to get it for free!

And here’s what all the excitement is about!

Here be dragons … and selkies and griffins and maybe even a mermaid or two.

Twenty fantasy authors band together to bring you a collection of thrilling tales and magical monsters. Do you like to slay dragons? Or befriend them? Do you prefer to meet cephalopods as gigantic kraken or adorable tree octopuses?

Each story focuses around a fantastic creature from folklore or mythology, and they range from light and playful tales for the whole family to darker stories that may make you wish to leave the lights on. These stories carry the Fellowship of Fantasy seal of approval. While our monsters may be horrifying, you won’t stumble into graphic sex and constant swearing.

Perfect for the fantasy lover who can’t get enough of mythical beasts.

Find it on:  Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Barnes & Noble  |  And Others!

The anthology is free on all platforms except Amazon right now, but we’re working on that too. In the meantime, it’s just 99 cents.

And Now For The Grand Prize…

Visit all twelve author posts to collect the numbers “hidden” in each post. Add them up and enter them in the Rafflecopter below, and you could win a Kindle Fire and a digital library of these awesome reads! Scroll down for the links to all of the Scavenger Hunt posts as well!

Looking for all the Scavenger Hunt Stops?

Here they are!

Kandi J. Wyatt

A. R. Silverberry

Bokerah Brumley

H. L. Burke

Lea Doué

Morgan Smith

Jessica L. Elliott

Caren Rich

Julie C. Gilbert

Nicole Zoltack

D. G. Driver

Intisar Khanani

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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An Open Letter to Undecided Voters in the US Election

My name is Intisar. Many of you know me because you’ve already read something I’ve written, but for those of you who happen across this letter, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

Fun Fact: While in college I was often mistaken for a good Catholic girl by the elderly Mexican immigrants living in our community.

I write young adult fantasy. My stories are about mighty girls living in worlds that look a lot like ours–which is to say, they’re complex, and diverse, and little bit gritty, even if there is a fair bit of magic floating around. These are the kinds of stories I thirsted for as a kid, and I love even the most miserable moments of the writing process. (That’s usually the editing, which is also usually the longest part of the process. There’s a bit of irony in there somewhere.)

But I’m more than just a writer: I’m a homeschooling mama to two young girls who are an absolute delight (except when they’re not, which happens). Before I left work to focus on my family and writing, I worked with our local health department to address infant mortality in Cincinnati (where our African American families were losing their babies at three times the national average) and community health generally. I received my masters in public health from Johns Hopkins University. I can go on about all the things I am: sister, wife, daughter, volunteer, rescuer of stray cats, Girl Scout leader… it’s a long list whenever we try to define ourselves. But there’s one part of my identity that has come to the fore in the current election:

I’m Muslim.

It’s strange, really, to live in the times we do. Our technology is so advanced, and yet history repeats itself over and over again. We’re all still human, no matter what our gadgets do, and so we keep on doing the same things we always have: slipping into patterns that create an us vs. them mentality; dehumanizing each other; making war on others so we don’t look at our own internal problems; heck, scapegoating huge groups of people based on some aspect of their identity–that they’re women, or people of color, or of a just not “from here,” or anything really. It’s amazing the ways we’ve found to discriminate.

As a Muslim American, I have some interesting memories. I remember a neighbor sitting down to a steak dinner at our house when I was six or seven years old and telling my parents they were going to hell. I remember buying pepper spray and being careful–so careful–about walking home alone because two other people in my university town had already been assaulted, one of them hospitalized, in the wake of 9/11. My first year after graduating, I remember waking up the day after Christmas to find that a neighbor had somehow heaved their old Christmas tree over the six foot fence between us into my back yard.

Another part of our history that makes me so proud to be an American – the heroism and strength of those who stood up for and continue to champion our civil rights and liberties.

There are, of course, counter-stories. There were the neighbors who made me feel like I was part of their family; the women who called our Muslim Students Association and offered to walk anyone anywhere in order to assure our safety; the neighbors who rushed out of their homes and hauled the Christmas tree away while I was still pondering where Christmas trees go when they’re no longer wanted. I’m grateful for these counter-stories, so very very grateful for the love and care and respect inherent in them. When I think of my country, this is what makes me proud to be American.

But through all these years, all these incidents (far more than I’ve described above), there was at least one other thing I had: my elected political leaders were absolutely clear that I was not an enemy, that Islam was not “the problem.” The media might paint overly simplistic narratives of Islam, there might be extremists specifically trying to change the face of Islam and further that “us vs. them” mentality, but at the end of the day, my leaders didn’t think I was dangerous just for believing in one god and striving to live by the golden rule.

Until now.

This presidential campaign marks a turning point in political rhetoric. And it’s a rhetoric that has been negative in so many ways that it boggles the mind. A single candidate has normalized the voicing of sexist, racist, able-ist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic statements, among others. This has had a very real and documented impact on life as we know it. Trump’s campaign has been linked to the steep rise of anti-Muslim violence over the last year or more. According to another report on the impact of the presidential campaign on schools, Trump’s campaign is producing “an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom. Many students worry about being deported.” Let that sink in. Just sit with it for a moment.

This probably isn’t your life. Maybe it is–I don’t know. But tonight I want to give you a window into my life. My little girls are six and four years old. For Halloween, they dressed up as a blue unicorn and a “monkey-bee.” They are sweet, and innocent, and so very alive with love and hope. And I worry. I worry about what will happen to them when there are politicians who can talk about the national registration of all Muslims, and point to our history of registering and then interning Japanese Americans as a precedent worth repeating. I worry about white supremacist groups like the KKK openly endorsing a major political candidate who is happy to have them. This is not the America I know. This is not the America I have loved and learned from and worked to care for. This is an America that is giving up civic discourse, deep and thoughtful assessment and reflection on the challenges our country faces, for simplistic, angry stances based on ignorance and bias.

Listen to the frog, folks. He’s talking sense.

Trump has normalized rhetorics of hate and mockery. He uses bullying tactics to stop those who speak up–and they often work. And he is changing our culture. He is making it acceptable, laudable even, to speak one’s biases and prejudices with pride. Under such a presidency, anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence will continue to skyrocket. My children would become (in fact, already are) easy targets for hate crimes, just from their names, but especially so if they’re seen with me–a hijab-wearing woman. I can envision a future in which national registration leads to “relocation” to internment camps. And that’s just the impact I see on myself as a Muslim American. I have no doubt that there will be an increase of hate crimes against Latinos, a bolstering of rape culture with a linked increase in sexual assault, a reduction in empathy–and then services–for individuals with disabilities. It is not that far fetched, because it’s already beginning.

This is an America that terrifies me. This is an America that is losing its heart, losing that core of love and care and respect that always came through to me before. As a nation, we have done some terrible things–history speaks to that very well. But we have struggled over decades and centuries to find our way to better ways, to a rule of law that respects us all. It is chilling to watch us slide back so easily, losing hard-won ground in a matter of months.

Next week the world will be watching who we elect as our next president. So will my family and I. The impact of this election for us is very, very real. Never has voting for a political candidate been aligned with our physical safety, with a reduction or increase in crimes against people of my faith, with the possible stripping away of our civil rights as Americans–which is to say, with the stripping away of our identity as  Americans.

I know that both of the major candidates running for election this year are flawed. Last week, when I voted early for Hillary Clinton, I did so knowing that she approves of the use of drone strikes that regularly involve “collateral damage” that look a lot like children and families to me. I voted for her knowing that I disagreed on a number of major policy issues that don’t need to be gone into here–but I did so also knowing that a vote for Hillary was a vote against a rhetoric of hate and violence that could very well destroy my family and I. It was a vote for Hillary’s own discourse of building our strength on our diversity as a nation. It was a vote for continuing to care for and love and respect those around us, however different we may all be. Because, as a nation, that has always been where our true strength, and beauty, and–dare I say it?–greatness lies.

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Writing: That Job Where You’re at Work Even When You Sleep

Some nights, I can’t fall asleep due to the conversations going on in my head–not the mention the sudden action sequences, the betrayals–how do you sleep? And then, some nights, I fall asleep and this…

Hmm… that magic ring idea might be a good idea…

Reblogged from: http://writingmemes.tumblr.com/post/9...

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Thorn 99 cent Sale – This Weekend Only!

Thorn is on sale for 99 cents today through Monday! It’s a long weekend after all, and what do people do on long weekends other than read more? (Don’t answer that–I’m just going to happily go on living in my little bookish bubble.)

Thorn is a Grimm-inspired tale of betrayal and magic, with over 1,100 five-star ratings on Goodreads. This lyrical retelling of “The Goose Girl” has been compared to stories by Mercedes Lackey and Robin McKinley. It’s also my debut, and was the book in which I started wrestling with building diverse worlds while telling the stories I wanted to tell. (I’d written seven or eight other as-yet unpublished manuscripts.) It’s both a Germanic fairy tale and something else altogether.

If you haven’t read it before, I hope you enjoy it! …And if you’ve already read it, now’s a great time to share it with family and friends!

Massive SFF Promo: Over 100 Free Reads To Top Off Your e-Reader!

This might sound like it’s too good to be true, but it actually isn’t. It’s full of all kinds of goodness, yes, but it’s also totally true. Click below to check out over 100  titles available this weekend, October 1-2, 2016, for FREE … and yes, books with wider platforms than just Amazon are included!

While you’re at it, if you haven’t read my own free short story, The Bone Knife, be sure to check it out–it’s listed in the fantasy section in the promo. It’s short, but it’s free, and … Rae is perhaps my favorite character of all the heroines I’ve written, so you really should consider meeting her.

Author / Character Interview with Aria Maher

This past August I had the pleasure of judging a short story competition hosted by Anela Deen. The winning entry was published in her newsletter, but I’m excited to host Aria Maher, the author of that entry, here on my blog. Aria is releasing her debut, Behind Her Mask Was Death, in just a few short days. Without further ado, here we go!

People do not generally think about death, especially not on the night they are going to die…

Devon Lavender never thought he’d end up in the middle of a murder mystery. But when an unnamed red haired woman dies in his arms on the dance floor in the middle of the Prince’s extravagant costume ball, it would seem obvious to everyone who the killer is. Devon finds himself with one chance, and one chance only, to prove his innocence and discover the real murderer, before it’s too late.

Behind Her Mask was Death releases October 1st, so keep an eye out for purchase links coming soon!

Ah, a nice murder mystery to curl up in bed with… Now, let’s hear a little bit more directly from Aria and Devon!

To start us off, can you, Aria, sum up your novel in a tweet?

A young gentleman goes to the Prince’s costume ball, where a lady dies in his arms and he must prove his innocence or be executed for murder

So, how did you two meet and how long ago was it?

Aria: As far as I can remember, it was last October when we ‘met’. I worked on the book, which is a novella, by the way, for a little less than a year before it was finished, and although other characters have come and gone, or changed substantially, Devon has always been the same.

Devon: We met right in the middle of things, really, at the Prince’s costume ball. Um… *laughs* It was… It was a very, er, interesting time. And, well, the next thing I know, I’m head over heels in trouble.

What was your first impression of each other?

Aria: The first thing I noticed about Devon is how very shy he is. He’s very cautious, but sometimes his head just takes over and he’ll do or say something that’s bound to get him in trouble.

Devon: Um… Well, Aria really seemed very polite, but a bit nervous as well. She, er, she is quite shy around people until she gets to know them, but I think sometimes she hides it by acting very, um… very cool towards people. *hesitates, then whispers very quietly* She can be, er, somewhat overbearing, sometimes…

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened between you two?

Devon: Oh, saints…

Aria: *laughs* Esmeralda, definitely. She’s really the heroine of the story, but she’s just so very sarcastic and a bit off beat, I guess. She’s the only daughter of the Grand Marquis, who is the ruler of the kingdom of Plutch, where the story takes place, and even though she’s supposed to be the genteel, proper lady of the kingdom, she’s more interested in dead bodies than tiaras. But she’s taken a liking to Devon, and maybe a bit more than just a friendly one, if you know what I mean, and that’s just embarrassment waiting to happen.

Aria, what do you feel the worst about doing to Devon?

Oh, everything. I just feel really bad for him, because the entire plot hinges on the fact that if he doesn’t figure out who the real murderer is, the Grand Marquis is going to have him executed. The book is mostly me just doing bad things to him. He’s fallen like ten feet down a dumbwaiter shaft and been chased through the palace by angry guards. But I probably feel worst about inflicting Esmeralda upon him.

Ooh, you have the evil author thing down really good, I can see!

Library Love Giveaway!

I don’t know about you, but I love love love my library. And back when I was in high school? Well, that fiction collection just wasn’t big enough for me. It was rough, I tell you. I scoured the new acquisitions Every Single Week. (Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but you get the picture: bookworm, not enough books, sorrow and desperation…)

This giveaway, therefore, is in honor of high school students everywhere who are reading through their school’s fiction collection and thirsting for something new. Funding can make new purchases tough for many libraries, but I write diverse YA and I’d really like young people to have a chance to read my books. And finally, libraries were a haven for me growing up. You never really outgrow what that means to you, so this is one small way for me to give back.

Here’s the deal:

I have five (5) sets of books (Thorn + Sunbolt) to give away to high school libraries.

Only the librarians of said high schools can enter the giveaway… because otherwise, there’s a good chance that the books won’t actually make it on to the shelves. And that would just be sad.

But everyone can help share the word on this giveaway. Because sharing is caring, right? Yes, it is. Know a librarian? Send them a link to this post and tell them what you think of my books.  Or help me by tweeting about the giveaway, sharing it on Facebook, or hollering about it whatever way you think best. And thank you, truly, for helping to get the word out. Y’all are awesome.

Oh, and this giveaway is open internationally. So wherever your favorite library (or librarian) is, they can still enter!

Librarians can enter the giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May the odds be ever in your favor!

photo credit: 223/366 – Bücher & Zeitschriften / Books & Magazines via photopin (license)

Review & Kindle Fire Giveaway: A Ransom of Flames by Anela Deen

Today I’ve got an intriguing fantasy read from Anela Deen that I’m excited to share with you. If you’ve been looking for a book with diverse cultures, a prickly but strong heroine, and a love triangle that doesn’t necessarily make you want to tear your hair out, this is the book for you! And don’t forget to scroll down to find out about the Kindle Fire + e-Book Giveaway that Anela is running.

Author / Character Interview w/ YA Fantasy Author Sarah Glenn Marsh

Today we’re getting excited about the upcoming release of Fear the Drowning Deep, a book Tamora Pierce has called, “Haunting–gripping–beautiful. So powerful!” Okay, if any of you grew up imprinting on Tamora Pierce like I did, that quote probably has you grinning and skimming ahead… so without further ado, here you go!

Sixteen-year-old Bridey Corkill longs to leave her small island and see the world; the farther from the sea, the better. When Bridey was young, she witnessed something lure her granddad off a cliff and into a watery grave with a smile on his face. Now, in 1913, those haunting memories are dredged to the surface when a young woman is found drowned on the beach. Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her Granddad to leap has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, people in Bridey’s idyllic village begin vanishing, and she finds an injured boy on the shore—an outsider who can’t remember who he is or where he’s from. Bridey’s family takes him in so he can rest and heal. In exchange for saving his life, he teaches Bridey how to master her fear of the water—stealing her heart in the process.

But something sinister is lurking in the deep, and Bridey must gather her courage to figure out who—or what—is plaguing her village, and find a way to stop it before she loses everyone she loves.

Pre-order it on Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Indie Bound

Ah, I’m totally a sucker for stories based in folk lore and mythology, so this is looking like a must-read for the fall (release date October 11!). Now, let’s hear a little bit more directly from Sarah, and Bridey…

 

 

To start us off, can you, Sarah, sum up your novel in a tweet? (140 characters or less)

I can try! Here goes: “The story of a girl who must overcome her fear of the ocean in order to save her town and everyone she loves from an ancient evil.”

 

So, how did you two meet and how long ago was it?

Sarah: We met in June of 2013, on a warm early summer night when I first dreamed Bridey up. In some ways, I can’t believe it’s been three years already, and in others, it feels like I’ve known her for much longer than that!

Bridey: You’re confused, silly. We met on May 15th, 1913, on the evening when I saw the drowned girl. It was the start of what would become the strangest, most terrifying, yet in some ways most wonderful summer of my life so far.

 

What was your first impression of each other?

Sarah: I thought Bridey was a kindred spirit. Curious, quiet, kind, and a little afraid, but also incredibly resilient. I admired the courage I could see in her from the start.

Bridey: The first thing I noticed was that she’s an American! I wanted to ask if she had horses and lots of land. That’s what they give out in America, isn’t it? Land and horses? I can’t wait to get over there and see for myself!

 

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened between you two?

Sarah: Bridey’s seen some of my worst typos and deleted scenes. Hopefully she’ll keep them to herself!

Bridey: Well, she was there for all my kisses with Fynn. There are some things a girl would rather keep private, rather than being gawked at!

 

Sarah, what do you feel the worst about doing to Bridey?

Probably making her try to learn how to swim in the ocean. Even though she was with Fynn, it didn’t go so well!

 

Bridey, if you could say just one thing to Sarah, what would it be?

We need to talk about that ending…! After all we’ve been through together, I have a few demands that I think are more than fair!

 

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you each do?

Sarah: I’d read a book (surprise, surprise!), go get a pedicure, buy a giant ice cream, and spend the rest of the day at home with my greyhounds while playing Fallout 4. Those are all things I normally do, but they’re things I love, and a day free of responsibilities would make them all the more enjoyable!

Bridey: I’d read, too. Granted, I only have one book at home, but maybe I could find transportation across the Isle to a library in Douglas city. I’d take my littlest sister, Grayse, to the bakery for a treat, and eat a whole bonnag (you’d call it a cake) by myself! Oh, and I wouldn’t look at the ocean once. I’d take my bonnag up to my favorite spot in the woods and stay there until sunset!

 

Do you think you two will meet again in the future?

Sarah: While there are no set plans, it’s not out of the realm of possibility!

Bridey: That depends on whether Sarah can find me; I might be off on any number of adventures, maybe in Wales or Ireland, or maybe even in America!

 

Bridey, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to someone? Why? 

As children, my sisters and I used to play games near Morag’s cottage. Daring each other to run up and touch the rotting wood, seeing who could get the farthest before running down the hill toward the village, shrieking, terrified of being hexed. Knowing what I do now, I regret ever taunting Morag that way. We only did it because we were young, seeking a thrill, but it was still wrong!

 

Sarah, what have you read in the last few months that you really enjoyed?

This is an easy one: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.

This book, you guys. It’s an adult sci-fi, and its strength and heart lie in its characters and unique, diverse world. The story follows the crew of a wormhole tunneling ship, and each has a fascinating story and perspectives. I dare you to read this and not get tangled up in the nuances of each crew member and their relationships. Whether you like sci-fi or not, since the focus is on character rather than plot, I’d recommend it to just about everyone!

 

Sarah: Thank you so much for having Bridey and me on your blog!

Bridey: Cair vie! That means, “Fair winds” or bon voyage in Manx!

You’re welcome! Thanks so much for the interview!

About the Author

Sarah Glenn Marsh is an author of young adult novels and children’s picture books. An avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of The Hobbit and promised it would change her life, she’s been making up words and worlds ever since. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their tiny zoo of four rescued greyhounds, a bird, and many fish.

When she’s not writing, she’s often painting, or engaged in nerdy pursuits from video games to tabletop adventures. You can visit her online at www.sarahglennmarsh.com, and follow her on Twitter @SG_Marsh.

Burkini Babe: A Short History of My Love of Water and a Comment on Swimsuit Bans

Back in my early days of authorhood, I filled out a blog interview questionnaire that asked me what my superhero identity would be, “real” or imagined. My answer, as you may have guessed from this post’s title, was Burkini Babe. At the time, I did not own a burkini (though I really wanted one), and Ms. Marvel had yet to be even whispered about. In fact, when I opened the pages of the first Ms. Marvel comic and found that she altered her burkini to make her superhero outfit, I very nearly squee-ed in excitement. It was such a YES! moment that it still makes me grin.

I only wish my burkini was this cool…

I grew up playing in the water. When I chose to start wearing hijab at the age of seventeen, I still had the chance to use a pool that had women’s hours in the afternoon in the complex where my parents lived when I went home each summer. I even took a lifeguarding class and worked as a summer lifeguard there for a couple years–one of the best summer jobs I’ve ever had.

But once I married and settled in Cincinnati, I found myself high and dry. There were no pools that offered women’s only hours. There was not yet any such thing as a burkini. And I missed the water. Oh my word, I missed swimming. It was the only form of exercise I have ever actually enjoyed aside from Tae Kwon Do, which is fantastic but a bit of an expensive outlet. And yet I could not go swimming without compromising an aspect of my faith which I held dear–hijab, with all its attendant principles of modesty, valuing my body for what it is, and refusing to allow its objectification. For me, hijab is about me owning my body, caring for it and loving it, and yeah, not letting society judge me by it. So, no water.

By the time burkinis became a thing, I’d all but forgotten how much I loved swimming. But then I had kids, and I wanted, oh how I wanted, to teach them to swim. I tried sending them into the water with my husband, and that was somewhat successful, but we didn’t get very far. And I didn’t get to do it with them. So I went online, and shopped around, and flinched at the price tags (though, to be fair, there is a LOT of cloth and sewing involved), and then I bought a burkini.

Also, can I have a show of support for being able to go down water slides?

I love it. I love it even though it is the most unflattering thing I’ve probably every worn (which is saying something), and not particularly great in the realm of “flow” for swimming. I love it because I can get in the water with my kids and play. Together, singing songs and splashing, we got through their fear of water last summer. And this summer, I am teaching my kids to swim, step by wonderful step, watching their confidence grow and their faces light with laughter and excitement. These are precious things for me, and I am so grateful for them.

Two days ago a news story popped up in my feed that made me stop and close my eyes and just sit, quietly, trying not to be furious. As reported in Newsweek, a number of towns and cities across France, Italy, and Morocco have banned the burkini. Their arguments? It’s unhygienic (even though it’s made of swimsuit material and covers more skin, arguably reducing direct contact of anything questionable between swimmers) and not “socially responsible” since it promotes “the shutting away of women’s bodies.” Although, one might also note that exerting power over women’s bodies is one of the oldest forms of oppression–and, therefore, deciding what we can or cannot wear is always an act of oppression, no matter how enlightened or secular (or religious) you think you are.

Family day at the beach, because, come on, isn’t that what the beach is for? How is there anything wrong with this picture?

I am grateful right now that I do not live in France or Italy or Morocco. I am grateful that I can go to our neighborhood pool, and our neighbors grin when they see me in my burkini, my kids in their swimsuits, all of us having a grand time in the water. But I am deeply disturbed by this widening trend. It means that in many places there are women just like me who can no longer play with their children in the water, who may never be able to teach their kids to swim–or learn, themselves–because of rising levels of discrimination and Islamaphobia. It is a loss of freedom that I feel keenly, and all the more deeply for the likelihood that it is only a precursor to greater acts of discrimination.

 

If burkinis had first been developed by skin cancer survivors, would there have been bans put in place? Of course not. If conservative Jewish women had first marketed a burkini, would we have banned them? Goodness no. But Muslims are the current bogeymen, just as communists were sixty years ago, and so it is quite all right.

Except that it isn’t. Today, I can play in the water with my kids. I will teach them to swim as quickly as I can, because I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, or if I’ll still be allowed this chance. Certainly, there are many women who no longer can. Nor do I know what other rights will slowly be eroded away, what freedoms I have taken for granted will suddenly be revoked, big or small.

So today I am taking a moment to be grateful for a simple joy I have. I am taking a moment to share my story, because, although I tend to be private about my personal life, as an author I understand the power of story. So step into my flip-flops for a moment, slip into this burkini (it’s a bit baggy, but there are worse fates), and realize that underneath all these things, I want to play in the water with my kids as much as the next mom, and possibly even go for a swim on my own. Why should that be a problem?

 

photo credit: burkini via photopin (license)

photo credit: Burqini (water slide) via photopin (license)

photo credit: The burkini makes it to Amasra via photopin (license)