BREAKING NEWS: Books (2)

Zao Fan

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Zao Fan collects traditional Chinese breakfast recipes in all their mouthwatering glory.

The White Bonus

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Journalist Tracie McMillan’s latest investigates how five families—including her own—benefit from systemic white privilege.

The Rulebreaker

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Biographer Susan Page paints a colorful portrait of trailblazer Barbara Walters in her compulsively readable The Rulebreaker.

“Chop Fry Watch Learn: Fu Pei-mei and the Making of Modern Chinese Food” by Michelle T King

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:16:31 +0000

The food of Taiwan has been the subject of a number of recent books, such as Frankie Gaw’s First Generation and Clarissa Wei’s Made in Taiwan. Chop Fry Watch Learn by Michelle King joins them, although it is a scholarly work, rather than providing recipes. While the first two do also include cultural, historical, and personal background, Michelle King’s work delves deeper as it follows the journey of Fu Pei-Mei, one of the first TV presenters on food and author of bilingual Chinese cookbooks.

Chop Fry Watch Learn: Fu Pei-mei and the Making of Modern Chinese Food, Michelle T King (WW Norton, May 2024)

Like many others who left China during mid-20th century turmoil, Fu was learning to be a housewife and felt impelled to recreate the flavors of mainland China, without prior cooking experience. For those unfamiliar with 20th-century Taiwanese history, King deftly reviews the legacy of Japanese occupation, the interplay between more recent Chinese migrants and the native Taiwanese people and the eventual Nationalist government. The foodways of each group had been distinct, and the local climate and crops also differed from Japan and China. At the same time, the introduction of gas and electric stoves, canned goods, and other kitchen appliances also changed how food was cooked in the home. Fu was not unique in her struggles, as another cooking teacher Ye Man detailed her frustrations:

Frustrated by maids continually quitting or performing so badly they must be fired, after the tenth maid Ye Man decides to do all the housework herself. But the results are equally dismal. She doesn’t mind doing the hard work, it is instead the complete absence of any time to herself that suffocates her… She recalls wistfully the short time she lived in the United States with her husband, enjoying modern home appliances and kitchen conveniences. There, “if a housewife wants to be lazy, she doesn’t have to start a fire to make a meal, she can just open a can, and that can satisfy her daily’s stomachs.” She could just stuff dirty clothes into the washing machine, and in the time it would take to do a load of laundry, she could sometimes finish writing an essay of one to two thousand characters, and then hang the clothes up to dry.

Chinese migrants also missed the foods of their native regions, and with only “local” domestic help, they still needed to find someone who could either make or teach them how to make those foods. Fu set out to learn and actually paid local chefs to teach her their dishes, although some still held back what they thought were key or secret ingredients, as that was how they hoped to preserve their uniqueness. She did learn enough, and had the opportunity to practice for her family and friends, that she started offering local cooking classes. When the local television station started, and they were looking for content, she was invited to have a live cooking show—predating Julia Child—which as King notes, makes Julia Child, the Fu Pei-Wei of French food. For the first show,

she also had to bring along all her own cooking equipment, including a cutting board, wok, wok spatula, strainer, chopsticks, bowls, plates and spoons. Fu’s three children and her mother, who had by then arrived in Taiwan from the mainland, were pressed into service to help carry everything to the television studio. With no connections for gas, electricity, or running water, Fu even had to lug along her own brazier, the heating element upon which she would actually cook. The brazier, commonly used at the time by housewives in Taiway, was a heavy clay bucket with an opening on the side to tend to the lit charcoal while the wok sat on top—only a slight improvement on cooking over a campfire. At the last moment, as she was carrying her equipment into the studio, Fu realized that she had forgotten to bring her cleaver. Along with a wok, this was the most essential piece of equipment for any Chinese cook. There was no way to demonstrate how to debone or score the fish without it… When she got home, her husband, who had been watching her on the living room television, chided, “You were in such a rush! You really botched that one!”

The other choice she made which broadened her reach, was when she did write a cookbook, to have it translated in English in the same volume, so that each recipe had both languages attached to the photo. As a result, when migration continued outward from Taiwan and other parts of China, to Anglophone countries, the cookbooks were widely distributed and became a way for new immigrants to recreate the flavors of home, as well as sharing with new local acquaintances. King also details how Fu continued to be relevant as a consultant for prepared food companies, as pre-packaged, canned and frozen foods became more commonplace.

Her research and reflections illuminate the specific and unique role of Taiwan in both the 20th and 21st century global food culture, with delightful added personal anecdotes as a 21st century working mother of Chinese heritage.

Kristen Yee is an American writer of Chinese and Portuguese-Jamaican descent.

Back Home and a Bit Discombobulated

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 23:11:26 +0000

This is what I get for taking redeye flights and then daysleeping to catch up on all the sleep I didn’t get on my flight. Today a total wash-out for braining. The song above captures my general state at the moment. I’ll be better tomorrow. Maybe! We’ll see!

Regardless, good to be home. It’s where my people are.

— JS

The Power of Books: Isobel Abulhoul on Engaging Young Readers

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 21:55:50 +0000

Isobel Abulhoul, who founded the Emirates LitFest and Magrudy’s bookstore chain, focuses on turning children into readers.

The post The Power of Books: Isobel Abulhoul on Engaging Young Readers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

Sharjah Booksellers Conference Releases Its 2024 Agenda

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:17:05 +0000

Organizers of the 2024 Sharjah Booksellers Conference are anticipating several hundred attendees taking part in this year's edition.

The post Sharjah Booksellers Conference Releases Its 2024 Agenda appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

Screen Scene

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 18:46:00 +0000

• Just two months after news broke that the Victorian TV crime series Miss Scarlet and the Duke would be losing actor Stuart Martin, who personated London police detective William “Duke” Wellington during that show’s initial four seasons, we learn from In Reference to Murder that “Tom Durant Pritchard (The Crown) has joined the cast of the Masterpiece drama”—to be retitled Miss Scarlet—“playing Alexander Blake, a handsome former soldier and respected detective inspector who joins the force at Scotland Yard after Wellington’s departure. He’s not particularly shocked by a woman working as a private eye, so Eliza [Scarlet, played by Kate Phillips] takes this to mean she’ll be given more cases. But their relationship gets off to a rocky start since Blake has decided not to allow private detectives to aid in his investigations. As Blake and Miss Scarlet cross paths at various crime scenes across London, they can’t help but develop mutual respect for one another, and perhaps even an attraction.” The Killing Times reports that the production of fresh Miss Scarlet episodes “is currently underway in Belgrade, Serbia, and [the show] is set to return to Alibi [and Masterpiece] in 2025.”

• Meanwhile, a trailer has been released for Season 9 of Grantchester. The first of a half-dozen new episodes will be broadcast in the states under PBS-TV’s Masterpiece umbrella come Sunday, June 16. Times are changing in more ways than one as this tale continues. The year is now 1961, Reverend Will Davenport (Tom Brittany) is departing his post in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester—much to the consternation of his friend and colleague, Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green)—and a new vicar is stepping in to replace him: Reverend Alphy Kotteram, portrayed by Rishi Nair (Hollyoaks). Nair will be the third Anglican vicar protagonist in this series from UK network ITV, following James Norton as the Reverend Sidney Chambers (Seasons 1-4) and Brittany (4-9).

• This comes as a bit of a surprise: CBS-TV has cancelled the crime drama CSI: Vegas. A revival of the original, 2000–2015 series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Vegas debuted in 2021, and in its first year found William Petersen and Jorja Fox reprising their roles from the popular previous series. Marg Helgenberger, who’d played forensics officer Catherine Willows in the first CSI, signed on to the cast of CSI: Vegas during its second season, joining Paula Newsome, Mandeep Dhillon, Matt Lauria, Ariana Guerra, Jay Lee and Lex Medlin.

• And timed nicely to what would have been this month’s 100th birthday for American composer-conductor Henry Mancini (had he not died back in 1994), Philadelphia journalist Shaun Brady pens a glowing tribute to one of Mancini’s best-remembered works, the “iconic” theme to the TV series Peter Gunn (1958-1961). “Peter Gunn instantly made Mancini a household name,” Brady recalls. “The soundtrack was awarded Album of the Year at the inaugural Grammy Awards, and the theme proved to be the first of many indelible Mancini melodies to come.” If you’d like to hear more versions of Mancini’s eminently whistle-able piece, see The Bunburyist’s collection here.

At Sharjah’s Booksellers Conference: The ‘PublisHer Lounge’

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:00:33 +0000

The PublisHer program for women in the book business presents events for women at Sharjah's upcoming Booksellers Conference.

The post At Sharjah’s Booksellers Conference: The ‘PublisHer Lounge’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives.

International Update: EIBF, IPA protest new Hong Kong security law; Sweden's World Book Week

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Following the adoption of the new Hong Kong Security Law on March 19, the European & International Booksellers Federation and the International Publishers Association expressed concerns about the limits this law will create on the freedom to publish and on bookselling in Hong Kong. At issue are the bill's sweeping provisions and broad definitions. The Guardian recently reported that the impact of the new law on publishers and booksellers has been immediate.

"The steady deterioration of the freedom of expression in Hong Kong is alarming and disheartening," said EIBF co-president Jean-Luc Treutenaere. "The book publishing and bookselling communities are under threat by repressive security laws, which are resulting in vibrant and beloved bookshops shutting down. Any closure, and particularly in current times, is a massive loss to the book world."

PEN America cancels 2024 literary awards ceremony

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000

PEN America has canceled its 2024 Literary Awards ceremony, which was previously scheduled to be held at the Town Hall in New York City on April 29, although some awards will still be conferred. The move follows months of steadily mounting criticism of the organization over its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which culminated last week in 28 authors withdrawing books from consideration for the awards, including nine of the 10 authors nominated for the organization's top prize, the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award.

"We greatly respect that writers have followed their consciences, whether they chose to remain as nominees in their respective categories or not," PEN America literary programming chief officer Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf said in a statement. "We regret that this unprecedented situation has taken away the spotlight from the extraordinary work selected by esteemed, insightful and hard-working judges across all categories. As an organization dedicated to freedom of expression and writers, our commitment to recognizing and honoring outstanding authors and the literary community is steadfast."

Tree. Table. Book.

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Lois Lowry’s Tree. Table. Book. will captivate readers as they reflect on the vagaries of history and the beauty of friendship, which are so poignantly conveyed in this timeless tale.

Two Together

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Readers will love discovering a dog and cat’s moments of personality as they enjoy different aspects of their journey home in Two Together.

Song of the Six Realms

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

With a smart, steadfast heroine, a charming love interest and compelling side characters, Song of the Six Realms is a dazzling, dreamlike escape into a world of powerful poetry, godly magic and humble heroism.

Real Americans

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +0000

In Rachel Khong’s multigenerational saga, Real Americans, science and philosophy sit cheek by jowl with history and elements of magic.

Interview With Author Alicia Jennings

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 04:13:00 +0000

1. What inspired you to write this book? I wrote this book for my nephew, Neo. I wrote it during the pandemic when we were all stuck indoors. I wanted to be able to give my nephew the sense of adventure without leaving the house.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? The book is about the adventures you can have with just a cardboard box and your imagination. This is written for young children aged 2-5 year-olds.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope that it will spark their imaginations and creativity. We live in a world of technology. Where screens are so commonplace every day. It would be lovely to encourage readers to have adventures without the need of pads and television.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I wanted to keep the cover design quite simple and almost like it is the beginning of their adventure. I’m a big fan of Judith Kerr’s work so wanted to emulate her with a blank background and just the characters. I wanted to keep the title simple and easy to read for young readers. It sums up the story in that one title.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? I would say don’t doubt yourself. Keeping trying and pursuing what you love. You will get there, it might be hard at times but all the hard work you put in will pay off. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Most importantly don’t forget to have fun along the way, enjoy the process from idea to a finished book!

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I see that in the book world it is definitely more inclusive of everyone. It’s lovely to see all the representation in books now. I feel we are still in the early stages of this but just the nature of being able to get more diverse books out into the world is such a good start and great for building an understanding of others from different backgrounds.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? We were going through the pandemic so having the spare time on my hands from having to stay indoors gave me the time to focus solely on my book. From an early age I was always encouraged to read and I loved picture books. I would get lost in the pages and knew that one day I would also like to create my own children’s book.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? My writing style is fairly similar to other author illustrators such as Judith Kerr and Mick Inkpen. I wanted to keep my writing style simple and easy. I’m dyslexic myself so I just wanted it to be a book that everyone can read.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I’m dyslexic so the main challenge I faced was the spellings and making sure the pace of the sentences made sense. Sometimes being dyslexic you don’t always read your mistakes properly so it was important to me to have other people read through my book too.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? You should read my book because it shows there is no limit to your imagination. Also it’s a good story about friendship and looking after one another. A little spirit booster.

About The Author: Alicia Jennings is an author and illustrator. She loves nothing more than drawing and doodling and has a sketchbook to hand at all times. Alicia has been drawing since she was a small and has never stopped, going on to study illustration at the University of Hertfordshire. For more info, please see: https://www.aliciajenningsillustration.com/.

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent. This award-winning blog has generated over 3.8 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook. It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

New Book Announcement: “Adivasi Art And Activism: Curation in a Nationalist Age” by Alice Tilche

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:27:07 +0000

Adivasi Art And Activism: Curation in a Nationalist Age,
Alice Tilche (Permanent Black, April 2024)

As India consolidates an aggressive model of economic development, indigenous tribal people—the Adivasis—continue to be overrepresented among the country’s poor. Adivasis make up more than eight hundred communities in India, with a total population of more than a hundred million people speaking more than three hundred different languages. Although their historical presence is acknowledged by the state and they are lauded as part of India’s ethnic identity, their poverty has been compounded by the suppression of their cultural heritage and lifestyle.

In Adivasi Art and Activism, Alice Tilche draws on anthropological fieldwork conducted in rural western India to chart changes in Adivasi aesthetics, home life, attire, food, and ideas of religiosity that have emerged from negotiation with the homogenizing forces of Hinduisation, development, and globalization in the twenty-first century. She documents curatorial projects located not only in museums and art institutions, but in the realms of the home, the body, and the landscape.

Adivasi Art And Activism: Curation in a Nationalist Age by Alice Tilche

Permanent Black, April 2024

Interview With Author Cecile Lewis

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 23:44:00 +0000

1. What inspired you to write this book? My book is inspired by the celebration of kindness. I was sent to boarding school at age six, a long way from home. It soon became apparent that kindness was the best way to endure the environment I found myself in.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? The book is written to equip young children with emotional insight. The story relates to the child's encounters with other personalities in daily life. Each character is unique. One is bossy, another is dedicated to family tradition, and the third enjoys eating. The main character resembles people who tend to be sidelined due to their differences. The story ends with a kindhearted soul we should all want to emulate.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? My book is aimed at parents who want to encourage a love of reading. I am a firm believer in grammar development at a young age. I have read books to both of my children since birth. It helped them academically and added a lifelong love of learning. Time spent reading on a parent's lap encourages an interest in books.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? My love of cats inspired the cover design. The image is typical of a feline, including the tiger family. As for the book title, it is intended to make people question the oxymoron—tigers don't have spots; they have stripes.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Write about your life experience. Your readers are no different to yourself.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I have noticed an increase in self-published authors. This suggests that there is a future with two types of publications: traditional and self-published.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Absolutely! My answer is twofold. First, my childhood in a boarding school provided ample challenging life experiences. Second, I have worked with young children for more than 30 years, and telling stories is a part of my daily life. This has inspired me to pen numerous stories I hope to publish.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? My writing style is aimed at making children laugh. I want to encourage the love of reading without lecturing the reader. My books are not similar to any others, but I am inspired by the author David Walliams.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I have threatened to write books since my early teens. Still, as a teacher, I have never found the time to get started on my series of books, which I refer to as Literature for Littles.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? My book will inspire readers to develop a lifelong love of reading while enlarging their vocabulary list.

About The Author: Cecile Lewis has worked with children for more than thirty years. Based on her broad experience, she recognises pre-schoolers capacity to grasp knowledge, believing we should not overlook their potential. Cecile noticed that advanced vocabulary develops the child’s proficiency and fosters a robust understanding of the narrative. With this knowledge, she felt inspired to build her picture book range. Her delightful tales encourage shared laughter between the child and the parent. She refers to her story collection as Literature for Littles. For more information, please see: https://cecilelewis.ampbk.com/

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Interview With Author Brenda Beckelman

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 14:11:00 +0000

1. What inspired you to write this book? While volunteering with children in Mexico to learn English I found that I would make up stories and read to them. This inspired me to write a children’s book.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? Get ready for an intergalactic adventure as Walter, a shapeshifting pup travels through a Vortex to new worlds where he finds mysterious Wind Monsters twirling around and the local village being destroyed. Did I mention that the elephants fly. Will Walter and his new friends find their way through the Golden Valley to save the alien village? This is a fun filled fully illustrated adventure story all set off world for children ages 4-10.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Learn to accept differences, develop friendships, work together, problem solve, be brave and that things are not always as they appear.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I love dogs, so Walter is a creation of what I think a dog might be on another world. I gave him shape-shifting abilities, he speaks any language and is fun loving.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Enjoy the creativity.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? It is challenging for new authors as there seems to be "publishers" who are not true publishers and looking to charge authors instead of helping get books published and distributed.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Raising children, volunteering with children. I believe they teach us as much as we teach them.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I'm not sure I have a style yet but I love science fiction, fantasy and mystery. I have not seen any books out there that are similar.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? The self-publishing process.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Because it can change their life by changing their thoughts. If you get any concept from my book, it is that things are not always as they appear and if you are open to new friendships, new cultures (a pup from another planet that speaks) and look for ways to work together to solve problems you can change your life.

About The Author: Hi I’m Walters creator, Brenda. I loved reading adventure book’s when I was a child, oh wait, I am still a child at heart, with 5 grown children, a husband of 20 plus years and a dog named Skooby do. I enjoy traveling, learning new things and am passionate about food, especially dessert! Most of the time you can find me south of the border where I volunteer teaching English as a second language to young children. For more information, please see: www.WalterTheWoogobee.com.

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Interview with Author David Thomspon

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 14:04:00 +0000

1. What inspired you to write this book? I never before thought about writing a book. This is an area completely new to me, but I felt inspired and almost compelled to record this chance encounter with a former bodyguard of Malcolm X. It was not planned. It can out of this encounter. I felt strongly that there was something to be shared with the general public that pertained to this American icon, but that was also linked to the Sufi Order to which I belong.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It is about this chance meeting with the last surviving member of Malcolm X's entourage of bodyguards. The photo I saw of him walking in Harlem had about 10 of them. Hence the title The Tenth Lieutenant. The book is about the Malcolm that is mostly ignored, but the Malcolm whose Islamic ideology had moved away from the ideology of the Nation of Islam (NOI) to more traditional Islamic teachings. This redirection placed Malcolm at a crossroads that may have been equally troublesome. He had had exposure to Islam as observed in Mecca, Egypt, and Sudan, among other Islamic experiences, and he was assigned a seasoned Islamic teacher from Mecca. Had he lived, he would have had to make a choice between this teacher's Islamic ideology or the Sufi influences he had also encountered. The book tries to argue that the bodyguard, Malcolm, and his protege, Minister Farrakhan, all seem to have been set on Islamic trajectories converging with Sufism. This required that the book discuss some history of 'Islam' in the NOI, of Islam in America from its early beginnings, Islamic influences in British colonial history, and to present some basic information about the Sufi way as I had learned as a member of the Burhani Sufi Order in America. It was a way to introduce Sufism to the American audience who may be unaware of this tried and tested method for character reformation. As such, it is written for the widest possible audience.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Readers should realize that Malcolm X had abandoned his radical racial pronouncements and had moved to the center while at the same time maintaining his commitment to addressing the human rights issues of black in America and elsewhere. Readers should also realize that there is a tried and tested methodology for elevating human character to claim the spiritual status with which Allah (God) honored our father, Adam. It is my hope that this book would pique the reader's interest to investigate Sufism further - in particular The Burhani Sufi Order.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The title came from one of the photos of Malcolm X I researched showing him walking to a 1963 rally in Harlem. He was leading his entourage of immaculately dressed lieutenants to the venue. I counted ten and that gave me the idea for the title since the lieutenant I encountered is most likely the last alive. I thought of calling it The Last Lieutenant, but settled on the Tenth Lieutenant which seemed more appealing. As for the cover design, at first I was leaning towards the photo with Malcolm and his ten lieutenants walking in Harlem. Having to include discussion of the possible movement of the NOI under Minister Farrakhan towards traditional Islam and towards Sufism itself, I felt that the photo with both Malcolm and Farrakhan would have been the most appropriate. Also, I included the last photo taken of Malcolm alive on the back cover in addition to the photo selected for the front cover to represent 'bookends' of the content that focused on the early bombastic and the later serene tolerant Sufi-leaning Malcolm

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? This experience has been an eye-opener into the world of book publication. I had limited funds and therefore had to learn all aspects. I designed the cover; I had to learn basic Adobe Illustrator to do so; I had to learn formatting for e-books and print books; I had to file copyright documentation and assign ISBN numbers to each format. It was a great learning experience which I would advise others could save you a lot. There are publication packages that range from around $2000 to $15,000. I didn't have the funds for the lowest level so I had to learn every aspect of the process. While I can speak with authority on the outcomes associated with package purchases, I would recommend self-publishing because you have full control of content etc. I would also have to warn new writers about the sharks in the knock-off waters. My attention was drawn to the fact that my book was being advertised and sold on both e-bay and Amazon without my permission. As a result, I had to learn about take-down notices as well.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The Tenth Lieutenant took me three year to finish. I followed some leads and some friends provided information that developed into leads. So, it was always a product in the making. With AI applied to the same task, much relevant research could have been completed, cover designed, content generated, and relevant videos incorporated in a fraction of the time. Already there are authors using AI to transform their ideas into book format in an instance. This has the potential to both kill creativity and enhance it... it depends on the motivation of the writer and the content. In terms of publishing, the industry is already heading towards self-publishing which would benefit from AI technology. AI could be no more than an aide in my subject area of interest - Sufism.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Certainly. I referenced my answer to an undergraduate honors professor who asked what differentiates man from animal. I gave the answer then that was good and accepted, but which I would be forced to revise since my years as a disciple of the Burhani Sufi Order. I mentioned my first encounter with the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem during a real estate venture in which I got involved. And most certainly, my upbringing as a Christian gave me valuable insight into discussion about the Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic Churches.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? This question is difficult to answer. Malcolm X was an avid reader. I, on the other hand, am not. I think my fear of reading as a child and teenager had some bearing on this. I was not a good reader and it affected my confidence and social interaction in a household of siblings who loved reading. Still, I think I write better than I speak. If there are other writers who can claim the same, I suppose my writing would be like theirs. Additionally, my life is always full of activity, even in retirement, so much so that I don't seem to have enough time to read my daily Sufi readings.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I learned enough to start a new career. I am a retired high school science teacher. I never guessed that I would be so deeply involved in the publishing world as to start a new career with a website, fledgling as it is, for book publication. I also had to learn to admin a site on an ecommerce platform. Of all the challenges, I found learning Adobe Illustrator and designing my own cover, and the covers of other books I am writing, the most rewarding.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? As mentioned in The Tenth Lieutenant, after I introduced Malcolm's sole surviving lieutenant to Sufism, he said he was interested in anything uplifting. That is the main thrust of my book. It points to something uplifting. At a time when moral decay is at its highest and when the daily mass shootings flood the news, people need to know that there is a trusted methodology for refining human character. That methodology is the cure-all for the multitude of social ills developed over centuries of spiritually rudderless misguidance humanity has had to face. AI may take it to the tipping point. Immediate action is needed to stem the tide and to help humanity revert to our real strength - our spirituality. The only way is to be informed of the character-building process used by the prophets and their inheritors, and to spring into immediate action to reclaim our spiritual birthright. This book attempts to point the way. The need is critical, the information included here vital to the process, and the time is now or never.

For more information, please see: www.sidiqpublishing.com

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