Just got back from Seattle…Seattle is one of the loveliest cities in America and it’s hard to leave. Its nickname is “The Emerald City” and I can see why.
I spoke at the Seattle Public Library on May 21 and met Chris Higashi, the librarian who started the Community Reads programs. It was very exciting meeting her because I have been talking about her for the past five years! Thanks to her idea, I have had the pleasure of being involved in nine Community Reads programs. They are a wonderful concept that bring all kinds of people together, people who normally would have nothing in common. Thank you Chris!
I also went to Milwaukee and stayed at the lovely Pfister Hotel. There was a professional baseball game in town so the place was filled with twenty-something athletes. Everyone was so excited except me since I don’t know a single professional baseball player. The athletes were all over the place and judging by the excitement, it was a big deal. Oh well. That’s what I get for being a writer who does not follow sports!
I also saw the AMAZING art museum designed by Santiago Calatrava. Words can not do it justice so look it up. It actually has wings that open every day. It was breath taking.
I visited the Joseph-Beth Bookstore in Cincinnati. They are one of the few independents doing well and I could see why. It’s one of those stores that I could spend hours in and not realize it. From there, I went to the Thurber House and was given an official tour. I also had the opportunity to sign James Thurber’s closet. (Don’t ask me why. It’s a tradition.) I’m a judge this year for the Thurber Prize so I have my work cut out for me. There are eight books on my night stand right now…
I had an event at the Columbus Art Museum which was organized by Thurber House. It was one of the highlights of my tour. Thank you Thurber House!
I also participated in the Ann Arbor Book Festival last week. Ann Arbor reminds me a lot of Berkeley. From what I gathered, the two towns are quite similar.
I also got ambushed on a right-wing radio show. (I had no idea it was a right wing radio show.) That was an ugly experience that showed me a side of America I had not yet seen. Let’s hope America does not go in that direction. More on that later.
I also went to the Contra Costa Book Festival. It was their first year. Let’s hope it keeps growing and attracting more people!
I am now off to Pebble Beach to deliver a graduation speech. Oh, what will I say?
Cheers,
Firoozeh
May 24th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Dear Firoozeh,
Your presentation in Seattle was beside funny also very informative. Have you considered stand-up comedy? The first agent you showed your manuscript was dead on “your stories are funny” but didn’t see beyond that.
In my mind you’ve become the ambassador to the Iranian People Americans do not know exist thanks to the news.
When we take in “the News” we tend to forget the information we’re made privy of is not about The People, the News is what makes headlines. It’s the inside stories of people like you and me, and our neighbors that make up the fabric of The People, where ever they may make their homes, where ever they are from. Kudos to you for making the effort to send your stories into the world.
Warmly,
Judith
Dutchess Abroad
May 26th, 2008 at 4:32 am
I read your new book last night in one setting. It was so good!! Actually last week I was thinking about your first book(Funny in Farsi)and thought to myself that I wish you would write another book. Well as luck would have it I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday and there sat your new book on display right in the front aisle of the store. I just love your books.They are so funny.I constantly laugh out loud when I read your books,which makes my husband look at me like I’m crazy.One of my favorite parts of the new book was when you were talking about your dad being in his 80s,and him saying he thought he was younger due to his feet being so soft.I hope one day you come to Nashville,Tennessee since thats where I live.Also can you recommend some authors that have similar stories or writing styles like yours?
Your biggest fan in Tennessee.
Becki
May 26th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Thank you Judith. I agree with you entirely! Now let’s just hope the rest of the country catches on.
Maybe Oprah is reading this…
Thanks again,
Firoozeh
May 26th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Thank you Becki! I hope I get invited to Tennessee for an author event one of these days. It’s one of the states I have never visited.
I highly recommend LOST IN PLACE by Mark Salzman. It’s one of my favorite memoirs. My other favorite is HOME COOKING and MORE HOME COOKING by Laurie Colwin.
Enjoy!
Best,
Firoozeh
May 27th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Dear Firoozeh,
Thanks again for lending us your story. I just wanted to let you know we had some great comments - our readers liked it a lot! Hopefully we managed to introduce a few new people to your books…
All the best with the rest of your tour. It seems like your schedule is very busy at the moment!
Liz
May 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Hi Firoozeh,
I was so surprised/excited to find Laughing Without an Accent a few weeks ago. One of my favorite things in the world is discovering another book by authors I enjoy. I have read Funny in Farsi at least ten times and lent it to my neighbor; I think I am going to let her keep my copy and get a new one, hopefully from an independent bookstore! Laughing Without an Accent was also everything I hoped for. I left a review on Amazon and am telling everyone about you. You should come to Philadelphia as soon as possible. And head over to Princeton and re-enact your dad’s visit with Einstein!
Please keep writing!
Alycia
May 28th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Thank you Alycia! I just read that lovely review on Amazon.com and I’m glad I now have a chance to thank you.
I would love to come to Philadelphia and Princeton. i work with a lecture agency and I go where I am invited. Maybe I will end up there one of these years.
If you’re on Facebook, join my site. It wasn’t started by me but I just started getting involved. I have joined the 21st century!
Thanks again for all your support. I am entirely dependent on readers like you who spread the word. Keep talking, Alycia!
Best,
Firoozeh
May 29th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Firoozeh,
I wanted to say that as an Iranian American I was very moved by your book. With an American born mother and an Iranian born father, we often didn’t understand some of his quirks, including a love of freebies and not knowing his own birthday. Your book reminded me a lot of my own childhood and it was comforting to have something to relate to. Last week, I brought the book home to my father and he read the whole thing in one sitting. My mom is now currently reading it and my dad told my brothers “everyone in the family should read it.” It is good to know that someone else is blessed to have a “Kazem” in their life. Thank you for sharing your story.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Dear Lee,
Thank you for your email. I love the image of your father finishing my book in one day! I assume you are talking about FUNNY IN FARSI. If so, make sure you get a copy of LWAA for your father. I think he’ll enjoy that one as well.
I hope your brothers enjoy the stories. We are certainly lucky to have “Kazems” in our lives.
Best,
Firoozeh
May 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I wanted to thank you for comming to visit our senior living community in Centerville, Ohio. We started to read your new book and the residents just love it. I loved reading about you Chevette. I used to have one that was two door and red. I hated that car!! That car though got me through a 1/2 hour commute to college almost everyday. Sadly the floor rusted out and the drivers seat fell through the floor. Theres a whole story behind that rusted out floor maybe i will write my own book and include that story in it. The residents are enjoy this book so much. We read every wednesday afternoon. this week we finished the chapter about the beets and your ulcer!! We were laughing so much. THank you for sharing your stories with us
Joanna Bentley
May 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Hi Joanna,
I do remember you! Thank you for reading my new book to the residents. I love the idea of a room full of laughing seniors.
That beet story probably resonates with some of the residents. They probably have a few digestion stories themselves!
Glad you share Chevette memories. We’re an exclusive club. They don’t make them anymore.
Best,
Firoozeh
May 31st, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Hellow Ms. Firoozeh,
remember me, Hitesh — Your Fan no. 1 from Philippines…
I still remember the release month of your book…
so how it going? when is it going to be in the market to ROCK the market and be the BEST SELLER among other books…
hope to get a signed copy from you as you promised =))
do you have any plans of coming to philippines? hope to see you personally, i really want to see, talk, and have picture taken with you…
you just ROCK with the sense of humor you posess…
take care and regards for the book launch..
Your and truly yours,
Hitesh
your FAN no. 1
I previously sent an email to you but i wasn’t ablr to receive any reply from you..so i decided to send another in case you didn’t receive the previous one…
pls reply to this msg.
thx
May 31st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Hi Hitesh,
Of course I remember you! You’re the only member (so far) in my Philippines fan club.
Send me your address and I will send you a signed book, as I promised years ago.
Best,
Firoozeh
PS You should join my fan club on facebook. Tell your friends!
June 4th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Hello Firoozeh!!
I just completed reading your book, Laughing without an Accent, today. I am not an avid book reader, but your book inspires me to become one. I just recently heard about Laughing without an Accent through my mom & some family friends who have already read it & Funny in Farsi. My mom & I rushed to the Barnes & Noble to purchase both, & as soon as I completed reading Laughing without an Accent, I opened up Funny in Farsi. I love your style of writing, your humor, your vast knowledge of any & everything. The entire time I read your book, I was laughing at your jokes & sarcasm, & so engaged in your life stories. I feel as though I can definitely relate to your stories & comparisons of the Iranian vs. American culture. I was born in Tehran, Iran & moved here in 1987 (at age 2) with my parents. Every chapter I read, I’d share the story with my parents. I wish that I could tell you on & on about how much I love your book, but I’m sure there’s not enough room here to do so
I only hope that one day my family and I can meet you. Keep writing and reading & please, please, please publish another book as soon as you can! I will buy & read every one. We love you Firoozeh!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
By the way, my mom is a professor at a local community college, & recommended both of your books to the Literature students reading book group & to the library. She loves your books & we will continue to spread the love.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Thank you Nilufar. I hope you stay an avid reader!
I’m glad that you were able to relate to my stories. In a way, all our stories are the same, just the details are different.
If I ever have an event near you, please come by and say hello. Check the events page on my website. It gets updated all the time.
I love you guys too!
Thanks again,
Firoozeh
June 10th, 2008 at 4:05 am
Nilufar,
Tell your mom that there are two study guides for FUNNY IN FARSI. One is on the Random House website and the other is on mine.
Thank you to her!
Best,
Firoozeh
June 15th, 2008 at 5:15 am
I just wanted to say that although overall i enjoyed Funny in Farsi, there were some things that really annoyed me about it. For example, I don’t recall anything positive about your mother…just that she was an embarrassment because of her accent. And I was very surprised that in your “it’s all relatives” chapter you only talked about your father’s side. Not that it’s any of my business but it just annoyed me enough that i had to make a comment. I also had an issue with the “peshkel” part but I won’t even go there
June 15th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Bahar,
The biggest compliment I give anyone in my book is my mother. Go re-read the wedding chapter.
Best,
Firoozeh
PS You have insulted goats everywhere. PESHKEL is a great word.
June 15th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Firoozeh,
I love every line of every chapter of both your books. I relate to every word, just like you I was born in Abadan I attended Roya school, My father was a Sherkatnafti, we went to Mahmood abad every summer, I miss my garden just like you do, I know those frogs you talked about, I even share your name and as an Immigrant I also had problems with my name, even my Persian friends called my FIZOOREH after a teacher called me just that , my father knows your father, he says they were teaching at abadan at the same time, you are so gifted, keep writing because we are reading
June 19th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Hi Firoozeh (it feels a bit strange writing that!),
Thank you for your lovely email! I hope we get to meet sometime. If I ever have an author event near you, please come by and say hello.
Best,
Firoozeh
July 16th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
hi firoozeh,
it was very intresting 4 me 2 read ur book(funny in farsi).my parent from ABADAN,so i like ur book becuase i saw abadan befor and i know that were the abadan is.sorry 4 my english.i love u firoozeh
July 16th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Thank you Soha! I’m so glad you enjoyed my stories. I’m sure your parents have many interesting stories about Abadan also.
Keep reading!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 18th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Dear Firoozeh,
I just finished reading your second book! I basically put my work and children on hold for almost an entire day because I couldn’t put it down. It was as wonderful and refreshing as “Funny in Farsi”.
I want to thank you on behalf of my generation of Iranians who immigrated to the United States at a young age for making us all feel okay about (as you so well put it) “belonging neither here nor there”.
I have purchased dozens of copies of both books for friends and family and can’t wait until my daughters are old enough to read them. You have made my job of explaining the nuances of the Iranian culture to them very easy.
Thank you. I wish you all the best.
Shadi
July 18th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Dear Shadi,
How much do I LOVE your email? THIS much!
Thank you for your generous appraisal of my work. If I have indeed made you feel better, then I am thrilled. Just think of how much I have saved you in therapy.
If I ever have an author event near you, please come and bring your daughters so I can sign their books.
Best,
Firoozeh
July 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Dear Firouze
I love these kind of writing(Funny in Farsi).
Thanks a lot to sharing us your book.
I red the translation of Mr. Solimani in Iran and really enjoy it. That was clear and smoth.
Sorry I’m not fluent in Eng. But love your book & want to share with you.
If I had your Add. I will send you my books,too.
I wish had the other. I hope Mr. Solimani translate it too!
Thanks again & again
Firouze from Mashad-Iran
July 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Thank you Firouze!
Unfortunately, Mr. Soleimani is not translating my next book. It is being illegally translated so don’t buy it!
Please say hello to everyone in Mashhad from me.
Best,
Firoozeh
July 21st, 2008 at 8:42 am
hi dear firooze
im one of your countryman .im dentist &unfourtunatlly im not good at english espesially writing(a little bit better than your mom) ,so excuse me because of my mistaks,
i wanted to write this letter in fingilish,but when i saw all of your comment are engilish ,changed my decision,any way one of my frind gave me your book at first i thought this is one of tastless book that has been written by one of immigrant irannian peaple.as you khnow we have not had actually humorous literary,but tanks god that you are exeptional,maybe you cant belive it but i laughed loudly through out reading your book,that was fantastic,we proud of you evrywhere you are
donya be kametan
July 21st, 2008 at 10:15 am
Dear Firouze:
I’m really sorry. I have not known about that!!
Such a strang happening!
how can I have your next book?
May i could do it by your permision.
Keep writing dear.
God bless you everyday.
Your fan:
Firouze
July 21st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Thank you Fati!
Your English is fine. I’m glad you liked my book even though you were sure you would not. That’s a good surprise, isn’t it?
I appreciate your kind words. They mean a lot to me!
Best,
Firoozeh
July 25th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Dear Firoozeh,
I just broke away from “Laughing Without an Accent” to thank you for your work and to do a little work myself. I have quoted a few lines from the book in an email to my half Persian husband, John who is on an airplane with our two children to a 7 day Persian reunion in Canada.
I had several loose ends to try to prevent from fully unraveling at school before the next school year gets underway. I am an ASL teacher. So as he faces, with some trepidation, a week to parent alone, face the drama and angst, and reconnect his extended family to himself and his children, I am beginning my dream vacation (7 days in alone in my own home!).
I have laughed out loud and shed a few happy tears as I read your book. It certainly helped me to understand some of the family events that I have attended in the past 20 years with my husband -most notably the funeral of Papajan complete with hours of wailing and flailing. It was almost as good as being at the reunion!
John and I read Funny in Farsi together and enjoyed it very much. Keep up the good work. We look forward to your next project.
I have saved the last two chapters of LWAA to savor tonight before going to bed. I am always reluctant to ‘finish’ a good book. My therapy this summer is to read, read, read. Your book is one of my favorites so far.
namaste
Glenda
July 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Thank you Glenda, for your sweet email. I’m so glad my stories have resonated with you and perhaps explained the Persian culture a bit more.
Seven days alone? I can’t even imagine that. Sounds glorious!
Enjoy!
Best,
Firoozeh
PS I have the same therapy as you. Reading is such a treat.