Writers Abroad Magazine Issue 3 September 2015 | Page 10

WRITERS ABROAD MAGAZINE
People said they loved my letters and encouraged me to put them into a book—the
result is: Silk, Spices, Veils and Vodka. The main reason for doing this was to describe
countries and people who often get very little positive publicity in a light-hearted way.
I want people to realise that people are people, people have to live their lives no matter
what their surroundings or circumstances, just like you and me. Iranian women have
to go shopping in the market with their heads covered and long sleeves in the heat of
summer, Afghan fathers have to stand at the bus stop in the rain, getting their children
to school on time... there is more in my book.
Who has most influenced your writing?
I would say that my husband, Michael, is my greatest advertisement. He loves my
writing and most often “forces” me to write. Because I have the privilege to see places
many people don’t get to see, to meet people others don’t really get to meet and to
experience things that many people wouldn’t, I feel “duty-bound” to convey these
experiences in the purest, simplest and most light-hearted possible way. Perhaps this
could remove some of the blinkers that the media and the opinions others who are
less informed have placed on our minds.
What do you enjoy reading, and what are you reading right now?
I like reading stories about other countries and cultures. They need to be based on
the truth but balanced with an element of fiction—literary license that can give it
exciting twists. I have just finished Birds Without Wings a book about Turkey written
by Louis de Bernières.
What are your passions, other than writing?
I love cooking, music—especially classical music concerts and opera, and recently I
have discovered the joys of tumbling around the historical ruins of Turkey—thanks to
my husband who is a history enthusiast. Of course, travel is my passion; that goes
without saying.
Any advice you can give to those of us who aspire to getting a book published?
Publishing has become easier than it was in the past because of the option of selfpublishing. In a way it has also become more difficult because there are so many
writers out there: books, blogs, websites, e-books, etc., publishers have become even
more choosey because there is so much to choose from.
If you are really passionate about getting published, then find a small publisher who
specialises in your kind of writing and get it published yourself. A word of advice, and
I would have taken my own advice if I had it at the time: read, re-read and re-read your
completed manuscript at least 20 times. Put it aside for a while, and by that I mean for
about three or four months before picking it up again. Re-read it again. You will find
that by allowing your passion to cool down a bit, your will be more objective and critical.
There will be lots of changes! Put your pride in your po 6