When the Haboob Sings received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Nejoud Al-Yagout.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
When the Haboob Sings. It was published in May of 2019.
What’s the book’s first line?
How did I get here?
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
When Dunya Khair writes a controversial article in the newspaper challenging the status quo in her country, the response—ranging from adulation to death threats—is swift. Faced with the dissolution of familial ties and the prospective collapse of her marriage, alongside a looming nervous breakdown, Dunya’s consequent actions exemplify both the strength and frailty of the human spirit. When the Haboob Sings paints a poignant picture of a woman whose unshakeable resolve to preserve her authenticity costs her more than she ever imagined.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
We inhabit a matrix of conditioning. Some regions of the globe are more difficult to navigate. In retrospect, perhaps that could be considered my inspiration: the consequences of questioning and challenging the ideals of a paradigm where the thought matrix is rigid, dense.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Dunya’s authenticity is distinctive. In addition, the waltz between her strength and sensitivity is distinctive. She reminds me of anyone who finds it arduous to oscillate between the inner and outer worlds.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Journalists can get into trouble across the globe, especially in today’s “cancel culture.” But if a reader wants to understand what is considered sensitive ground in this part of the world, perhaps they will be drawn to the book. Perhaps.
Is there something in particular that motivates you?
I’m a sucker for love. Loving, being loved. Since writing is my way to connect with others, it is the closest platform I have found to being in a state of love.