An Interview with Hend Hegazi
Hend Hegazi was born and raised in the USA and graduated from Smith College with a degree in biology. Her first novel, Normal Calm, was published in January 2014 by FB Publishing. Hend currently resides in Alexandria, Egypt with her husband and four children. You can catch her making fun of her brother and telling embarrassing stories about her kids at hendhegazi.wordpress.com.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and what got you interested in writing. Is English your first language, and if not, what made you decide to write in English?
I was born and raised in a small city in southern Massachusetts. After graduating from Smith College with a degree in biology, I moved to Egypt to be with my husband. I have been here for 14 years, now, and my 4 kids are my biggest fans. Recently they saw my book in a local bookstore, and they were more excited about it than me!
I’ve loved to write ever since elementary school. I used to write plays and ask my classmates to perform them in front of the class. Poetry and fiction are where my heart is, but I’ve found that I have a non-fiction voice as well, and I’m currently a freelance writer for SISTERS magazine.
Q: Who have some of your influences been in the literary world, for instance writers or other creatives you have drawn strength and inspiration from?
My all-time favorite writer is Khaled Hosseini. He paints pictures with words…you can actually see the scenes jump from the pages as you read. He also succeeds in humanizing international issues and making them very real for an audience that may not otherwise be exposed to such trials. His success is proof that talent and hard work cannot be stifled by our backgrounds or our names.
Q: Your book Normal Calm is about a very difficult subject, rape. How and why did you decide to write about something that may not be well-received, especially by the Muslim community?
It was the general Muslim mentality of raped women that was my inspiration to write Normal Calm. Their belief that these women are somehow responsible for the crime which was committed against them had me livid…and I felt like I needed to speak out against that. Not only does Normal Calm speak against victim blaming, but it may also be a source of inspiration for victims. When they read how Amina moved forward with her life after her rape, I hope that they will know that they are not alone, and this knowledge will give them the strength to seek help or to move forward.
Muslims have to learn that silence regarding a difficult issue will neither solve it nor make it go away. The only way we can help our raped sisters, is to make sure our voices are loud and clear.
Q: What does the future hold for you? Do you expect writing to be a long-term goal for you, especially now that you are no longer living in the U.S.?
I have just negotiated a contract for my second novel, Alhamdulillah. The best thing about writing, is that it can be done from anywhere…it has no geographical limits. Since writing is my passion, I do hope that it will be my life-long companion.
Q: What advice do you give to new writers who are Muslim? What are some do’s and don’ts they should know?
There are markets out there for Islamic fiction and also for Muslim fiction. The markets are not big, but with some effort, they can be reached. Facebook is an important resource in meeting publishers, editors, and marketing strategists. Once you’ve finalized your manuscript and done your own re-writing and editing, contact agents or small publishers. And don’t give up! It may take over 100 rejections before you get an acceptance.
If in the end you decide to self-publish, don’t skimp!! You MUST have your manuscript professionally edited first. The fees you pay will be worth the professionalism your readers will enjoy.
