Shadow on the Wall (The SandStorm Chronicles, #1) by Pavarti K. Tyler
Paperback
Published May 1st 2012 by Fighting Monkey Press
| Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero? Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero.
Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?
Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.
In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.
Who designed the cover? (I think it looks really cool!)
Damon Xeda from Novel Publicity designed the cover. He's an amazing artist, flexible and always innovative. Check out his portfolio. He's also designed the cover for my upcoming book DEVOUR (attached)
Who's your favorite Superhero?
Why The SandStorm of course :)
"Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?" What was your inspiration?
The inspiration actually came from a call a friend of mine put out on his blog. He asked for folks to submit stories about a Middle Eastern Superhero. I wrote and just kept writing and writing and realized I had a lot more to say than just a little story for a blog. I really wanted to write something that explored the idea of religion as a motivator for good. We hear so much these days about Jihadists and Fundamentalists, it's all so scary. The issue of whether you should follow the law of God or the law of Man is one that I delve into quite a bit. i hope it will be interesting, entertaining and make you pause and rethink some things.
You have a degree in theatre! Wow that's pretty awesome. Anywho with that background, can you see your book making it to television?
Indeedly Do! I worked in New York on and off broadway as everything from a Stage Hand to Director to Production Manager. I'd love to see Shadow as either a TV show or a movie. I think the perspective of a non-western hero is one we could really use! I'm not sure it's something that would be primetime material though. Perhaps HBO :)
What would be your ideal cast?
Aasif Mandvi must play Recai. Did you hear that Aasif? What are the SEO stats on this? Let's say his name again Aasif Mandvi. Maybe he'll read my book and make it happen :)
Let's see I'd also cast Ezra Miller as Isik, Cote de Pablo as Darya, Konnie Huq as Maryam, and Sarah Ramon as Rebecca.
While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
Of all the characters I’m probably the most like Darya. Her story is so tragic but I can see how the circumstances of her life took her down that path. I imagine being in her circumstance and I get frustrated for her; to be so smart and capable, to have such ambition and no way to express it, plus the privilege she has adds an extra layer of confinement. I don’t mean to imply this is the case for all women in Muslim countries. Maryam is an example of that! However, were I Darya, I think it would be easy to become angry and bitter. Taken to the extreme I can even see how that could drive a person a little insane.
How are you the same and/or different from the main character?
Well, I'm not male, muslim nor wealthy so Recai and I have little in common from the outside. The thing I share with him though is the frustration that religion divides us and pulls us further apart instead of bringing us closer together.
What books/authors have influenced your writing
Anais Nin. I first read her when I was 15. Titillating and beautiful her books opened my world up. Inappropriate for me to read by most standards, something about the lyrical self awareness of her writing affected me much more strongly than the erotic subject matter she chose. Eventually her diaries were what truly moved me. She wrote about things that could be insane and beautiful, sensual and painful, necessary and immoral at the same time. Her writing challenged me and continues to do so.
Did you ever experience writer's block while working on this book?
No, I tend to experience something more akin to writers vomit. I write and write but there's nothing salvageable!
What is your favourite theme/genre to write about?
Race and Ethnicity are big themes for me. It is prevelent in Shadow but also in my other works. Two Moons of Sera is a fantasy romance set on a world where three races are at war, despite ultimately not being all that different. I guess the concept of being "other" is what really intrigues me. Living on the periphery of belonging.
Will there be more installments with Recai Osman or is this a stand-alone title?
Book Two Prisoner's of the Wind Will hopefully be released at the end of 2013.
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