PLOT EVOLUTION​

One day, in the middle of writing the first draft, a scene popped into my head. The characters, setting and dialogue had nothing to do with my current story, so I quickly typed it out in script format and saved it.

Months later, I was typing out what was to be the final chapters of the story, when a voice inside my head said, “You remember that scene of a woman telling a man ‘I’m going back in’?   Add it here.”  Trustingly, I reviewed the scene and began typing.  Instantly, a whole new storyline flowed complete with back story and an entirely new, interesting (to me), main character: Zafeera Hasni.   At the time, I could see no relationship between her and my central story.  But then, as is quite common to us writers, the central story of Basma began ‘dictating’ a new pathway for itself…a new thread.   Then sure enough, I saw where the two seemingly disparate story threads fit together and through that merging both would be enhanced and the theme elevated.

BEHIND THE VEIL​

Because I was writing about cultures, traditions and events I’d never experienced– like most novelists– I did extensive research: read numerous library books; screened many documentaries on the subject matter at Women Make Movies. Later, while getting a filmmaking degree, I interviewed fellow Muslim female students.

In the past fifteen years–with an increase of immigrants from the Middle East, Northern African and Southeast Asia– women and girls wearing various forms of ‘hijab’ have become more common in The West, along with the ensuing controversy. Through my heroine, Basma, I examined the issue: to veil or not to veil, along with female sexuality and personal liberty in restricted cultures, as an organic process. I related to my characters because they each represented aspects of my own female psyche and because they are human.

Basma, my heroine’s journey innately follows that of the hero’s journey, along with those unavoidable archetypes: the messenger, the allies, and the dark cave.

CONNECTING THE DOTS​

In my travels to India and Greece, and in long discussions with Indian, and orthodox Jewish women friends and acquaintances, I realized that the same religious fundamentalist attitudes toward women can be found in Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jewish and various Hasidic sects.  I discovered that violence toward women and girls, specifically, has increased over the decades, takes on many forms, and transcends cultural, national and even ideological boundaries—but has one origin. The character of Dr. Neelam Sethi lays it all out.

I also learned how rich the history and culture of the Middle East truly is; how it informs European history and culture, so I infused a little of the cultural traditions of my characters into the story.  Women are the nurturers in families everywhere–especially through the food. Food has the power to seduce and unite.  In UNBOWED, food does both.