The book "The Damascus Passenger" seeks to take a different look at the lives of people who gave up their lives and possessions and battled to protect this nation's borders and territory thousands of miles away from home.
Please give us a brief introduction and explain how and why you choose to pursue writing.
My name is Fateme Arabasadi. I'm 42 years old, a teacher, and the author of "Damascus Passenger." It could be said that my passion for writing began when I was a teenager and was inspired by Katie in Little Women. Nevertheless, I began writing seriously in 2011 by starting a blog. In 2018, I took a writing class, started reading books in all genres, and began creating articles.
What gives you the idea to compose "The Damascus Passenger"? Why did you give it this name, specifically?
The name of the book has a complicated origin, but to make a long story short, I was inspired to write "The Damascus Passenger" by a traveler whose family and he endured hardships following the trip. I tried to depict a small aspect of their lives in the book. The characters in this book have all met in Damascus, and each of them has a unique story to tell.
What sources did you draw on for this book, and how effectively did your research help to clarify the writing for you? Did you travel to Syria?
One of my dreams is to visit Syria. My knowledge of Syria goes back to the country's official news sources and the many Instagram stories that my friends shared about their travels there. They provided clear and insightful descriptions of the situation in Damascus and other Syrian cities from the words of Syrian civilians. In addition to these, I also read certain books about the defenders of the shrine's memoirs, which I indirectly used in some of my story's plot points.
Which of the characters was more attractive to you and why?
Mahnaz, because she had been through a lot since she was a child, and now she had lost her husband and was carrying the burden of life all by herself.
Source:Tehran Times