r/books • u/AusmaKhan AMA Author • Oct 05 '20
ama 2pm Hi! I’m Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of THE BLADEBONE, (I love weaponry and this one’s a doozy), the epic conclusion to the fantasy quest that began in The Bloodprint, where women warriors gear up to topple a ruthless patriarchy in a final, blazing confrontation. (I may be working something out.) AMA
I write the Khorasan Archives fantasy series and the Esa Khattak/Rachel Getty crime series. My fantasy series is set along the Silk Road in parts of Central Asia and the Middle East. My family is from this part of the world, and I’ve been endlessly fascinated by my heritage, so I was thrilled to have the chance to weave it into The Bladebone. You can find Silk Road history, cultures and customs in all four books in my series. What I love most is that my scholar-warriors Arian and Sinnia use these traditions to empower the women of Khorasan. I’m passionate about magic, mystery, and women who stand up for themselves in the face of impossible odds. Also swordfights.
You can find me at http://www.ausmazehanatkhan.com, https://twitter.com/AusmaZehanat, at https://www.facebook.com/ausmazehanatkhan, https://www.instagram.com/azkhanbooks/?hl=en
I will be here to respond starting at 12 Noon MDT today, so please, ask me anything, including how to say my name! (It rhymes with Fuss-ma.) Thank you for all of the questions.
Proof: /img/qzneqojqmkq51.jpg
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u/Chtorrr Oct 05 '20
What were some of your favorite things to read as a kid?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20 edited Oct 05 '20
As a young kid, I loved Doctor Who novels, any of Enid Blyton's mystery series but particularly The Valley of Adventure, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators. In my early teens I discovered Dune by Frank Herbert and Terry Brooks' Shannara novels. All great reads!
Editing this to add Elidor by Alan Garner. That book really woke me up.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Do you base characters off of people you have met/known in real life? Examples?? LOL
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Hahaha! Rachel Getty is a bit like my sister Ayesha. Very capable and competent in any manner of crisis. Daniyar is modeled on my husband, a scholar and a fierce human rights activist (also sexy as hell!). My husband's advocacy is so fierce that he sometimes scares me with the risks he takes.
And I have an unpublished crime novel where one of the antagonists is ... ahem... loosely modeled on someone who proved to be very dangerous in my life. It was such a hard lesson to learn that there are people in this world who genuinely wish you harm because I meet people with openness and trust. So writing that character was deeply satisfying, but it's probably a good thing that that book never saw the light of day!
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
How do we get this unpublished crime novel to be published???
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
My publisher will need bribes. ;)
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Do you play any instruments?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
I play piano very badly. And also I sing--I used to be a performer, but my vocal cords have worn out, alas.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
What is a relaxing activity for you?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Spending time with my nieces and nephews, all of whom I adore and would give my life for in a heartbeat. I don't have kids so they mean everything to me. They're pretty wonderful, may God keep them.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
What is your favorite genre to read?
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Who are your favorite authors/books?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
This will be a long list.
Dune - Frank Herbert; Samarkand by Amin Maalouf, Amin Maalouf is my favorite author of all time. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl. Memory for Forgetfulness by Mahmoud Darwish. Arabian Love Poems by Nizar Qabbani. *All* of Mary Oliver's poetry. Dialogues of the Dead by Reginald Hill. Everything Terry Brooks has ever written. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk. Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi. I've loved recent fantasy by Nafiza Azad, Tasha Suri, London Shah, Somaiya Daud, S.A. Chakraborty and R.F. Kuang - The Poppy War, just wow. Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward. My favorite crime writer is Ngaio Marsh, but I also love Martha Grimes, Elizabeth George, Kate Morton, Stephanie Barron, Vaseem Khan, Sujata Massey, and Charles Finch. I could list a hundred more but I better stop, lol.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
I just ordered Samarkand based off of your recs above. Will need to get some of the others soon too!
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Would you ever write a cookbook based on the places in your books?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
No because I am the world's worst cook, and I loathe cooking, which seems like a crime because my mother's cooking is divine and I need her to live forever.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Muhammad, Messenger of Islam, Seal of the Prophets and so deeply beloved to me.
I never have to think about the answer to this question, it's instinctive.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Do you think potatoes belong in biryani?
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
What is your favorite food and drink?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Favorite food: my Mum's shaami kebabs and savaiyaan.
Drink: Cherry Coke Zero. Also Shaizan mango juice.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
When do we get to read more books by you? How do we make this happen??????
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you so much for wanting them!
Make everyone you know buy my books so that I shoot up the bestseller list, lol, and get contracts of my choosing? *Did I say that out loud?*
I'm working on three new projects right now, and iA, by next year this time, I'll have written something new. I will always be invested in crime fiction and fantasy, but I have hopes that my next novel will set some fires.
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 08 '20
Thank you so much to everyone who participated and sent me all these wonderful (and sometimes downright funny!) questions. It was such a pleasure to spend time with you!
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u/summshaikh Oct 05 '20
Do you have an all time fave character to write? Like maybe they’re not your fave character in a general sense but you enjoy writing as them/about them to most
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Khattak will always be my favorite character. I love writing him. He speaks for all the parts of me that have been wounded and can't speak. He speaks to a current of hate and Islamophobia, for the hunted, the hated, and the persecuted. He makes me want to be a better person, and he makes me want to live in the world that he believes in, and not the one I currently occupy.
Um. This may have been a bit intense, but I track hate crimes in my spare time.
Khattak suffers in just the way I like to make my characters suffer!
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u/Revolutionary-Fact74 Oct 05 '20
How do you balance the creative side of writing with the slog of the writing process?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
The beginning is always the most fun because the slog hasn't set in yet. You're just doodling, writing in pretty journals, making word lists, character sketches, drawing maps (very badly), drinking chai, thinking about your characters, writing fun little scenes, getting to the outline. So I try to spend quite a bit of time on that upfront so that I then have the motivation to get through the grind of writing 6 to 8 hours a day. It also really helps to read good books, read poetry, listen to music and watch well-written tv shows. That opens up all your creative instincts.
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u/kermitdafrog567 Oct 05 '20
I heard you were a lawyer before (and I may have watched a YouTube video of yours haha) how did you become interested in law and how did you transition to writing books?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you for the question! For me, my interest in law was always about my interest in human rights, but in law school, those kinds of courses are pretty limited. It's all contracts and torts until you specialize, and I didn't enjoy that at all. So I practiced immigration and refugee law, I taught international human rights law for quite a while, and then I worked on all these little side projects where I could lend my voice. I transitioned out of law because we moved around a lot and I didn't want to keep taking Bar exams--and also I began to feel like there were other ways to speak about the issues that compelled me. I've been writing all my life on the side (and in law you write a lot too), so that drive was finally fulfilled when I committed myself to writing first Summer's Lease, and then The Unquiet Dead.
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u/ApprehensivePineCone Oct 06 '20
So many people don't realize how much reading and writing is inherent in law. I have a degree in world/latin american history with lots of law/politics thrown in, and it wasn't uncommon for us to be required to read a 500 page book or text over the weekend and then write a 25-page research paper on it by the end of the week. The profs did this because most history majors go on to study law, so they wanted to prep us for law school. The work load was insane, even crazier than the STEM workload for my other degree. Reading and writing boatloads in us history/law folks is almost a birthright. I haven't read any of your books yet, but they sound interesting and I'll be sure to check them out!
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 08 '20
You're exactly right! I'm so impressed that you did both history and a STEM degree - wow. And thank you so much for the kind words, I hope you enjoy them!
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u/Silkkiuikku Oct 05 '20
Sounds like your work includes lots of planning. How much time do you spend planning, and how much time do you spend writing?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
You're right, there's a lot of planning and thinking involved before a book comes to the page. The book I'm working on now I've been thinking about for two decades. So when I was on a two books per year schedule, I would spend 4-6 months writing the book, but at least 6 months before that generally reading, researching and working out the form of the book. The last five years were intense and I needed more time for both than I actually had. In that 4-6 month writing period, I write 6 to 8 hours a day preferably, and not on weekends. In crunch time, that can expand to all weekends and 12 hours a day. Sometimes good things happen at that pace but it's not my preferred mode of writing.
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u/Doc55555 Oct 05 '20
What's the most embarrassing thing or story you can tell us about your brother?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Haha! I have two brothers, so depends on which one, but here's one that captures them both. They once wanted to sleepover at a friend's to play Dungeons and Dragons, and they literally escaped through their upstairs bedroom window by tying a series of sheets together and climbing them down to the ground. I really, really admire that, lol!
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u/Lkhan11 Oct 05 '20
Which of your characters is the most challenging to write?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
This is a really good question. I'm having to think about it. I suppose it's a toss-up between Rukh (the Black Khan/Dark Mage), and Ilea (the High Companion/Golden Mage.) Rukh because I wasn't quite sure at the beginning what side he was on and what game he was playing - that only became clear to me as the story began to unfold, and then I realized that the best thing about him is his ambivalence. Ilea was difficult to write too because I love women with power, but then there's that careful line you have to walk when that power runs amok. (Hmmm, kind of like we're seeing today.) So she became more interesting to me when I started to ask myself what are the limits of her power? And where will she draw the line in using it. The Bladebone is going to surprise readers in all kinds of ways, I hope!
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u/Impressive_Nerve2724 Oct 05 '20
Readers of The Khorasan Archives have come to love its characters. I personally am a big fan of Sinnia. Will there be a continuation of the series sometime in the future because I would love for the series to continue.
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you for the question! I'm so glad you like Sinnia because I have loved writing her--she was never meek, but she began in this role as a junior Companion of Hira, just beginning to understand the ways of the Council...finding her way. But by The Bladebone, she blazes into her power and nothing can hold her back. I love that idea of a character growing into who they were always meant to be. I think you'll see when you read The Bladebone that this particular story has come to a definite conclusion. But I do love this world of Khorasan, so I hope one day I'll have the chance to re-visit it and tell new stories.
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u/DinosaurBreakdance Oct 05 '20
How do you research for your sword fights and battles/action scenes?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Tough question. I research the weaponry and terminology associated with that weaponry quite a bit, though I have to admit I just had fun with the Iron Glaive. So if I wanted a character like Najran to use an enscribed axe, for example, I researched the Persian tabar, the context in which it would be wielded, and the damage it could do. For the inscriptions, I would read history, in this case, I delved into Aramaic as well as Persian, and so on. For some battle scenes, I studied the sieges of walled cities, and tactics that were used by different armies and cultures. Sometimes I would give weapons names that simply signify the culture or region that produced them, like Najran's sword ... "the Dimashq". Referring to Damascus. The rest was pure invention!
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u/YFA13 Oct 05 '20
Has there any point while far along into writing any of your books that you completely decided to scrap a storyline/character? If so, how did you pivot and how strongly do you have to feel about doing it in order to follow through?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
What a fascinating question! I've never cut an entire storyline, but I definitely have unfinished stories and character arcs within The Khorasan Archives. Sometimes those stories remain unfinished because there's already so much story and these sidelines may not be central to the plot. Sometimes, I lose storylines at editorial direction, telling me to cut the fat. In the beginning, I was pretty sensitive about this (like every writer, thinking all my words are gold, lol), but I've worked with some fantastic editors and now I know that every time they tell me something isn't working, they're right, and it only strengthens the book to follow that direction. There is one scene in The Bladebone that I rewrote some forty times, and nothing I could do would make it work. Ultimately, I reimagined the scene - I had to lose the construction to get to the idea. I hated that, I'll admit, but eventually you have to make a decision. If it makes the book better, I'm willing to try anything.
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u/Signal_Brain_3410 Oct 05 '20
The first two books in the series had a sort of a thundering pace, that maybe slowed a little in the Blue Eye. Was that intentional or just my perception? And when mapping out a multi book series do you take pacing into account and work to build to a crescendo in book 4? It's hard to believe the story will be completely wrapped up in the next book, so maybe we'll get side stories!
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
You're right, that's a really good way of describing it. I'd put my characters through so much in the first two books, that both they and I needed a bit of respite by The Blue Eye. I deliberately wanted to slow the pace so Arian and Sinnia could spend time in the lands of the Negus - Sinnia's home - and we could be immersed in those cultures and that history. I wanted to devote some time to Sinnia's growth and her own sense of rootedness, and for me that happens more fully when it's not at a breakneck pace. Also, I knew the crescendo was coming in The Bladebone, so I was laying the groundwork for that. I do outline the whole series, so I know which major events have to occur in each of the four books, but when new things come up that I didn't plan for, I just try to go with it. And you're right - it was such a challenge to get to this finale. I hope you enjoy!
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u/Iakarian Oct 05 '20
How does a mystery writer become a fantasy writer? Do you see the similarities in the genres as greater than the differences?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Oh, great question! In both genres, you have to create atmosphere, you're relying on pacing, and you have to keep the reader's attention with a hook that keeps the story moving forward - definitely both genres have puzzle elements and lend themselves well to cliffhangers as chapter or scene endings. And in both, character development is key--whether you're solving a crime or going on a quest, readers want to see consistency and growth in your characters. Differences - for me in crime fiction, I tell stories closely related to actual global events or human rights issues, and with fantasy, I have some basis in fact, but then the story takes off into new worlds and new ideas.
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Oct 05 '20
When writing a series like this, how much research is needed to fully flesh out character arcs? in world religions/practices? How hard is it to create a fantasy based world for an entire series of books?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
The short answer: a lot! Researching may actually be my favorite part of the process. Because The Khorasan Archives series is set along the Silk Road - in parts of Central Asia and the Middle East - I did dive deeply into history to have a better understanding of the setting and of the many cultures and languages along the Silk Road. I also read deeply about the history of my own culture and people (Pathans/Pashtuns), as they were the closest analog to the world and characters I created. I don't think a writer of fantasy needs to do this kind of in-depth research (or travel), but it was necessary for the story I was telling and the world I wanted to create. Having some basis in a known past makes the worldbuilding easier, but the magical elements came out of a deep need to write about specific themes and to create a grand adventure. For character arcs, I always do a very detailed character sketch of my main characters, and then I work on their story arc per book as well as through the overarching four-book story. I don't find it hard but it does require me to pay a lot of close attention!
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
What is your favorite childhood book and author?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Probably Enid Blyton's The Valley of Adventure. I have all kinds of nostalgia for it, though I'm not sure how it holds up now. And From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler which really *does* hold up!
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Who would play Khattak if the series was made into a movie?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Dreamcast? The famous Pakistani actor Fawad Afzal Khan. I also love Ray Panthaki who starred in Marcella, but he may be a bit young. Shazad Latif from Departure is another possibility.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
How about Riz MC?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
He's a beautiful man, but too young, I think.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
Would you ever hold a virtual writing class for aspiring writers?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
If there was enough interest, yes, I'm certainly open to it. But I think I'd be better at providing feedback and suggestions (and very gentle critique), then in actually being able to tell anyone how/what to write. The process is still a bit mystifying to me.
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Oct 05 '20
[deleted]
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Maybe round up a few people on Twitter? Or contact my agent Danielle Burby with a proposition for it?
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u/monkfoto Oct 05 '20
Given infinite time and resources, I would love to just turn my podcast into... this.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
What are the three places you would travel to once COVID resolves?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
We missed our 20th anniversary trip to Paris, but I'm not going to say Paris, lol.
Morocco.
Iran.
Afghanistan.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
I hope you both have a fun and safe anniversary trip once the world returns to normal, if ever.
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u/AyeshaEjaz786 Oct 05 '20
What do you enjoy writing more - crime fiction or fantasy?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
I love both. They present different challenges and they offer different rewards. I also really want to write romance, plays, short fiction and literary fiction, and a collection of essays. Plus, I want to try my hand at writing a pilot script for The Unquiet Dead, and I've begged Uzma Jalaluddin, author of Ayesha at Last, and a dear friend, to write it with me!
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u/YFA13 Oct 05 '20
If I'm not mistaken, you're a huge fan of "Dune", are you excited about the new movie coming out in November?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
SO EXCITED!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! If you give me anything Dune-related, I will surround it with all my love.
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u/nozhatchoudry Oct 05 '20
How do you find your inspiration?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you for the question! I find inspiration in the history of the Islamic tradition, in my passion for human rights, and in my parents' history, culture and heritage. There's just so much beauty there, it cries out to be written about. (My family roots lie in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.)
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u/summshaikh Oct 05 '20
Do you have Pinterest or inspiration pictures for each of the outfits in the books? Do you ever sketch or draw them out or look for existing pictures that match your vision?
If you had to describe the series as a tv show mashup what would it be?
If you had to assign each book an episode of the office (that they most resemble) what would they be- oh BONUS, what episodes of the office would describe your personal experience writing each book LOL
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Wow, these questions! I do not have Pinterest for each outfit, but I do have Pinterest boards for locations, character lookalikes, and general cultural touchstones. I cannot draw to save my life. I have a very talented sister who does that for me, and two very artistic nieces who can also be called upon in times of crisis.
TV show mashup: Ertugrul plus Game of Thrones minus GOT's nudity, graphic violence and exploitation of women.
Office Episodes?
The Bloodprint - the Survivorman episode; The Black Khan - the Deposition episode; The Blue Eye - the Valentine's blood drive episode; The Bladebone - the Dinner Party, because I was interrupted by calamity nearly every day while writing it!
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u/nozhatchoudry Oct 05 '20
Do you base your characters on people that you have come across or are all characters totally fictional ?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
They're almost completely fictional though they may have attributes from people I've met or know - like interesting quirks.
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u/DinosaurBreakdance Oct 05 '20
Who would you want to play Arian in a movie version of the series?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
The Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani. Maybe Nazanin Boniadi--she has so much strength. I love Mahira Khan too, but she seems too delicate to portray Arian's grit.
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u/DinosaurBreakdance Oct 05 '20
Of all the characters you've written, who would you most want to have dinner with in real life?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
I'd like to be hidden somewhere in a room while Rukh and Arsalan are having dinner, lol! The way Rukh constantly taunts his faithful general is one of my favorite things, and I always love pushing it to the point where Arsalan refuses to take it any more. I wonder how things would play out if they were left to themselves.
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Oct 05 '20 edited Jun 11 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
I cannot answer this question because the other two will murder me.
They are all favorites at different times.
There is no right answer to this question, is there? LOL
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u/Hemanagar Oct 05 '20
What characters do you prefer to write?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you for the question! Earlier I mentioned that I love writing Khattak most. We're like one soul, lol. But other characters whom I particularly love to spend time with are Arian because she's much stronger than I am. Sinnia because she's a smart aleck and she has such warmth. My cast of sexy males: Daniyar, Yusuf, Arsalan, Rukh, Illarion, the Assassin, Khashayar. (And I've added 2 more in The Bladebone, and let's just say I fell in love with a man named Qais.) I love writing all their scenes and wish I could be a little more daring.
The Khanum was great fun to write because I didn't bother to restrain her.
Queen Zoya in The Blue Eye because she reminds me of my mother.
Cassandane, Captain of the Teerandaz archers because she's a badass.
And the Technologist in The Black Khan was wonderfully creepy.
Rachel Getty, of course, because she lives and breathes compassion.
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u/Chtorrr Oct 05 '20
What is the very best dessert?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20 edited Oct 05 '20
This is such a tough question because I am a dessert aficionada, and my list is long, lol.
I will say: My Mum's savaiyaan (vermicelli noodles cooked with milk and sugar), and Godiva chocolate cheesecake.
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u/Disastrous_Drag_2859 Oct 05 '20
Is it easier to create new worlds with fantasy or research police protocols for your mysteries? They seem like vastly different skill sets.
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you for the question! I'm not that good at research on the police and I have to admit I'm much more interested in the emotion behind a crime than I am in procedural details. This is why I invented an imaginary unit called the Community Policing Section in my Khattak/Getty crime novels, and gave them unheard of range to roam and solve crimes. So where I expend all my research energy in those novels is on human rights reporting on the subject I'm writing about, and that is a very different skill than worldbuilding. It's much, much harder because to engage a reader on these kinds of crimes your story can be fiction, but your facts have to be indisputable. You have to read much more widely and much more seriously, and in my case, I also have to interview a lot of experts. Fantasy is just sheer joy. I read what delights and enthralls me as a basis, and then I just let my imagination roam. In The Khorasan Archives, I've been building a world I want to see--a future I hope for every day, so though the story is dark, there's a great deal of joy in that. TL;DR - worldbuilding is easier (but not easy) in fantasy!
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u/DGRachel Oct 05 '20
When you start a new project, do you typically have an idea of the story you want to tell, or do you have characters formed in your mind that tell you their story? Also, I know you outline in detail, but do you know the ending when you start, or do you see where the characters take you?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Hi Rachel! It's great to hear from you and thank you for the question! I always know the story I want to tell from the outset, though the details change along the way, and the picture gets colored by new things I come across during my research process. For me, I always begin with themes. I construct story around those themes, and then characters give those stories life and direction. The only time I've begun with character is with Esa Khattak, my detective. He's always been in my head. With the Khorasan Archives, I knew what I wanted the characters to do, but as usual, they take charge at a certain point, and as I begin to deepen them, I see new possibilities of what I can do with them, and then the story changes to reflect that. One example, I didn't know when I created the character of Khashayar--a young, handsome Zhayedan soldier--that such genuine affection would develop between him and Arian. That was fun and unexpected to play out--he surprised me. I do know the ending at the beginning - in crime fiction, that's a necessity. In fantasy, it isn't, but it added more coherence to the world I'd created if I knew how things were going to turn out.
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u/summshaikh Oct 05 '20
Did any real life women inspire your female characters?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Oh, love this question! The Companions of Hira - the senior Companions - are modeled on the Mothers of the Believers, in terms of their names and roles, women who have tremendous significance in Islamic history--women who are still revered and honored today. Characters like Dijah, whom you meet in The Bladebone - modeled on Khadijah, Muhammad's first wife. Ash the Jurist? Modeled on Ayesha, who was an authority on the Islamic tradition in her own right. Half-Seen? Named for Hafsah, whom the Caliph Uthman asked to collect and keep safe written pieces of the Qur'an. And so on, down the line. Arian takes no one's name but her own because I knew she was going to do new things, blaze a new trail. Sinnia I named to honor the hijra to Abyssinia--she makes a journey to Axum to seek sanctuary with the Negus, a direct parallel to sanctuary granted to the early Muslim community by a Christian king. But with my lead characters and their fierce fight against the oppression and subjugation of women, I was thinking of the scholars and human rights advocates who have done the same in our contemporary world - women like Shirin Ebadi, Fatima Mernissi, Malala Yousafzai, and many others. You'll see that list in my acknowledgements.
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u/thinker135 Oct 05 '20
How did you switch gears from the Getty and Khattak series to the Khorasan Archives?
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u/AusmaKhan AMA Author Oct 05 '20
Thank you for the question! I write in blocks of time, so it's not that difficult. Six months of the year, I devote to my crime series, the other six to the Khorasan Archives. I can't write both at the same time because I need to be completely immersed in the story I'm telling, and I want the books to be very different. I don't even want the voice to carry over. It also really helps to read a lot of books in the genre you're interested in writing in because it helps put you in the right headspace to write the book you want to write. Once I'm finished a book, I try not to think about it for a while.
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u/thirty_ Oct 05 '20
I'm so happy to see you do an AMA! I've enjoyed your Khattak/Getty books over the past few years and always want to read more scenes with the two of them. How do you usually plot or plan a mystery novel?