Ava Homa, Kurdish-Iranian author of the book Daughters of Smoke and Fire, will discuss, and read from, her award-winning book as part of Hayward Public Library’s Many Voices series. This free event will take place at the Weekes branch at 27300 Patric Avenue, in Hayward, on Saturday, December 2nd, from 1 – 2:30 PM. All are welcome!
Listen to Ava Homa in conversation with literary critic and author, Jennifer Carson, as she talks about growing up in Iran, her journey to becoming the first female Kurdish author published in English, and some of the challenges facing both women and Kurds in the Middle East.
Ava Homa is an award-winning novelist, a journalist, an activist, and a writing instructor at California State University, Monterey Bay. Her groundbreaking novel, Daughters of Smoke and Fire, received the 2020 Silver Nautilus Award, was a finalist for the 2022 William Saroyan International Writing Prize, and has earned recognition as a selection in Roxane Gay's prestigious book club, Literati. Homa’s collection of short stories, Echoes from the Other Land, was a nominee for the 2011 Frank O’Connor Short Story Prize. Homa's writings have appeared in media like the Globe and Mail, BBC, Literary Hub, and Literary Review of Canada. She was also recently awarded the 2023 California Arts Council Fellowship. Homa Ava will sign copies of her book at the end of the program and copies of the book will also be available for purchase at the event.
Jennifer Carson is a novelist, essayist, and book critic. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, Barnes & Noble Review, Science, Six Hens Journal and Los Angeles Times. She is also the founder of the literary organization To the Lighthouse.
Registration is encouraged, but not required. In case of a full house, preference will be given to those who have registered in advance. To register for this event or to find out more about it, go to: bit.ly/HPLHoma
The Weekes Branch Library is also hosting a book discussion group about Daughters of Smoke And Fire on Saturday November 18th from 2:00 – 3:00 PM. For more information, contact the Branch Manager at Melesha.Owen@hayward-ca.gov or (510) 293-5214