The Tour [Winter in Khawagaland]
Just over a year short of 50, I'm coming to the US at last—in the depth of winter
Dear friends,
It’s been a while and we’re all so tired. The death, the devastation—the struggle to make sense of so much cruelty and ugliness—and us alongside and across from it, sobbing and panting or thankful we’ve survived…
But I’m writing with good news. I thought I’d try and get it to you before Christmas so as not to interrupt or get lost in holiday arrangements.
I’m writing to let you know that, thanks to the generous vision of Graywolf Press, I’m going to be in America at last. As of Feb 2 I will be among the khawagas on a four-stop tour to promote The Dissenters. If you’re in one of these places on the right day, please let me see you (links in the caption):
I will also be spending the weekend (Feb 8-9) in Madison, courtesy of the Arabic department of the University of Wisconsin.
I’ve been very lucky. Not only will incredible writers like Gabrielle Bates and Zain Khalid be engaging publically with the book. But N. S. Ahmed’s heartfelt response to it has already appeared in BOMB magazine, and several more features are planned for the next few weeks.
The Dissenters, in case you’re wondering, is the first novel I’ve written in English, inspired in equal parts by my mother and the January Revolution, and reviewing some sixty years of Egyptian history to make sense of what happened in 2011, and why what followed followed. We’re living with the consequences to this day.
I love you all. Nothing good could ever happen without your good vibes.
Sincerely,
Y
P.S. The first of my Postmuslim essays to have been written, “The Bghdad Split”, just went live on culteafjournal.com. It’s about breaking up with my American girlfriend in Zamalek just as the first US troops entered Iraq, more than twenty-one years ago.