Thursday, January 26, 2012

Cast of Characters

Dear friends: I thought you might like to know the characters in Keep Eyes Behind. If there is any character you would like to know more about, please ask, and I will write a brief bio.
Here they are: (The family name is subject to change before publication, but the characters will remain the same.)
The Moradian - Mohabeen family:
Mamajan - Shokat Khanum, the family matriarch, the children's grandmother
Mama - Layli Moradian Mohabeen, the children's mother
Uncle - Amin Moradian, the children's uncle
Baba - Dayan Mohabeen, the children's father
Maryam Mohabeen - 12 year old daughter, story narrator
Naim Mohabeen - 8 year old son

Other characters in order of appearance:
Mirza Beyzad/Uncle Bey - friend of the family
Mr. & Mrs. Zayhabe - cafe owner
Medi al-Bezi - horse owner
Various horses
Mr. Fadhan and family - horse owner
More horses
Servant of the caravanseri
2 donkeys and a camel

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Power and Character

Here is a copy of Kickstarter Update #15. I realized that some of you who read this blog may not receive the those Updates, so here is a copy.

At this stage, nearing completion of the manuscript, the editor and I are working together to analyse character, plot, and elements of dramatic tension. We consulted long and hard about the power balance between the protagonists and antagonist. In "Keep Eyes Behind" the primary protagonist/hero is a 12-year old girl, Maryam, the story narrator. Yet her 8 year old brother, Naim, and their Uncle Amin are more than supporting characters. Then enter two huge, magical horses that bring additional power to the protagonists, against one major antagonist. Back to the drawing board - another re-write. This is one of the many challenges of writing fiction. It is like putting together a block puzzle; all the pieces must fit perfectly, balance each other, and in the end, stand on its own and not fall off the table. What I'm doing now is working backwards. I'm writing a new biography for the characters, including the horses, in order to illuminate the unique flaws and strengths of each. Hopefully this process will help me enhance the characters' behaviors and interactions to bring greater balance of power between them. A believable power struggle is the seat of dramatic tension. Get that wrong and you've not got a story. We're almost there. Please send your good thoughts this way.
Next blog: Cast of Characters

Monday, January 16, 2012

Excerpt from "Keep Eyes Behind"

Twelve year old Maryam is the narrator of this story set in mid-nineteenth Baghdad. One of the unusual characteristics of her family is that the women are not only literate but artistic. Maryam's mother writes poetry, as Maryam says: "when no one is looking". Her grandmother, Mamajan, teaches Maryam to recite the ancient poets, such as Hafiz, and to chant prayers, and to write and tell stories about historical figures. It is the family's version of home schooling.
In the early part of the book Maryam has just learned about the death of her heroine, Tahirih (a real historical figure). Maryam in her sorrow chants this poem, titled "Look up".

"Look up! Our dawning day draws its first breath!
The world grows light! Our souls begin to glow!
No ranting shaykh rules from his pulpit throne
No mosque hawks holiness it does not know.
No sham, no pious fraud, no priest commands!
The turban's knot cut to its root below.
No more conjurations! No spells! No ghosts!
Good riddance! We are done with folly's show!
The search for Truth shall drive out ignorance.
Equality shall strike the despots low
Let warring ways be banished from the world
Let Justice everywhere its carpet throw
May Friendship ancient hatreds reconcile
May love grow from seed of love we sow!"

[Tahirih - A Portrait in Poetry, Selected Poems of Qurratu'l-Ayn, Edited and translated by Amin Banani, Kalimat Press, Los Angeles, 2004]

Friday, January 6, 2012

Welcome to "Keep Eyes Behind"

This is an exciting moment. 73 backers of our "Keep Eyes Behind" project just made the entire financial goal with 22 hours remaining for the Kickstarter campaign. I am excited to share this achievement with you on my first blog.
We invite you to keep your eyes ahead for updates on our collaborative-creative process and our progress towards completing the audio book.
Please also visit us regularly: http://www.facebook.com/BeverleeStoryLines
Beverlee