As Maryam's Tree Stood Witness

I was born in Aden, South Arabia, in what is now the Yemen Republic. (Salem, one of the main characters you'll meet in my book, also hails from Yemen.) Professionally speaking, I am a translator and legal consultant with a varied background. This includes work as a Prosecution Attorney and Advocate before the Aden Supreme Court in the 1970s.

It was through my uncle, a longtime solicitor in Birmingham, England, that I became familiar with the experiences of the Yemeni community living in the U.K. Later, my uncle's stories and his descriptions of the expat life came to form the background of my book.

The novel tells the story of two couples, including Salem and an Irish beauty he meets in Birmingham. Their stories are a way to explore some topics that are important to me. This includes the need to find common ground despite the many issues that can divide conscientious thinkers. Matters of culture, religion, and philosophies of government are just a few examples.

There are lots of topics touched on in my book that I'd like to delve into further in my blog. The plight of young girls in undeveloped countries and their lack of hope for the future is only one such issue. In my book, I illustrate the problems that they face through the heartrending stories of some young women close to Salem.

The blog will also highlight symbols, events, and places in the book. In the first pages of the novel, you'll see two characters experience a transforming moment beneath the branches of a palm in Aden, South Arabia, in what is now the Yemen Republic. It's no coincidence that I had the two meet there. The palm is a sacred symbol with a history that is rich and meaningful-and well worth exploring. In the next post that you'll see from me, I'll tell you a lot more.

So there's much to talk about! I hope that you'll join me often in my corner of the web. I'll be looking forward to some thought-provoking conversations.