“Circle = Life Once we start seeing our circle from the outside, it means we managed to break through… If you are afraid, remember you are not alone If you don’t admit the pain; you will never heal If you do not say stop; they will not cease so many ifs… nothing will change until you rise up!” #MOI I know because once I was there…
Hi Badiaa Hiresh, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Oltobooks : Tell us a little about yourself and your background? Badiaa Hiresh : Badiaa Hiresh was born in Lebanon in 1964 where she eventually lived and worked, raising her two daughters Vanessa and Tiffany. Badiaa also spent time in the USA after surviving the bitterness of the Lebanese Civil War, which gives her a unique international perspective on her home country. After working as an accountant and manager for the family jewelry business, Badiaa found herself in the field of education, helping to start a school. As well as writing, Badiaa is an advocate for peace, spending many years as a Peace Coordinator. Badiaa, the child born to a painful beginning, dreamed, and reached International by publishing three books, Where Is My Angel?; Mommy, I Am A PACER; & Life’s Detours, Alexandra’s Choices.
Oltobooks : What are your ambitions for your writing career? Badiaa Hiresh : To inspire readers and change their life, and see my books on the big screen.
Oltobooks : When did you decide to become a writer? Badiaa Hiresh : I wrote since I could think and hold a pen. Having lost my mom at birth, made me write to her in my mind, and speak to her to feel safe; and then came my diary.
Oltobooks : Why do you write? Badiaa Hiresh : The topics I write about touch upon reality. I want to heal the world from pain, I want people to get over their issues and deal with them and prevent them through actions.
Oltobooks : What made you decide to sit down and actually start something? Badiaa Hiresh : I always had that passion and imagination. When I was in Grade 2 I won the reading award and I always knew and wanted to write. So what made me decide to sit down and actually start something, well, imagine you are at school event, all mothers are there, and your mother’s seat is empty… so you fill the blank of the seats, events, life moments, etc… with words.
Oltobooks : Where do your ideas come from? Badiaa Hiresh : From real life events, personal and those I lived, and witnessed.
Oltobooks : What is the hardest thing about writing? Badiaa Hiresh : The hardest thing about writing is writing about yourself, and the decision of how much to say!
Oltobooks : What is the easiest thing about writing? Badiaa Hiresh : The easiest thing about writing is the process itself, at least to me. Once I start, I keep on writing, no planning, no mapping, just words and ideas flowing!
Oltobooks : If this book is part of a series, tell us a little about it? Badiaa Hiresh : Where is My Angel? my biography Once upon a time, a child was born. Between the different events, that child learned that the end in sight is more important than the beginning. My story is not unique, maybe the sequence happening to one person is. I am every woman, every story behind closed doors, every marriage, and every company. This is the story of a woman born in Lebanon with an international view on life. After losing her mother at birth, being exiled to the States and experiencing family leaving her life, Badiaa developed an inner strength that has allowed her to cope with events that would have broken someone less strong. With time, she learned to stand alone. She learned about the importance of a smile, she learned about the steps towards happiness, she learned about true friendship, she learned about inner-peace, she learned about what makes a family, and additionally, she learned to differentiate between fate and destiny. Fate came with her birth, but she knew that destiny was in her own hands. Mommy, I Am a PACER: Meet Abigail. Abigail is a girl who’s made a difference in her community by becoming a PACER, but what is a PACER? A PACER is a person who exhibits perseverance, agility, clarity, empathy, and respect. In this collection of short stories, each book represents one of the letters of the word PACER and its attributed characteristics. Join Abigail as she perseveres in welcoming new members into her community, demonstrates her ability to make quick and successful decisions, learns to resolve conflicts by talking openly and honestly with others, and so much more! Mommy, I’m a PACER encourages children to adopt the attitude of a PACER and teaches them how to interact with others and react positively to many different day-to-day situations. Life’s Detours, Alexandra’s Choices This story is about women and for women. Can broken hearts be mended? Alexandra is a dreamer, the youngest child of a large, reserved family. She longs to escape her small-town life and begins a secret life when she is nearly sixteen, singing at a small pub in the next town over. Her parents find out and give her a choice: stop singing or leave home. She leaves and soon finds herself involved with a much older man. When she discovers she is pregnant, however, her entire life changes once more. She sets out on a journey to a big city, determined to make her own choices and find her dreams, regardless of the challenges she faces. Between the life chosen for us and that we chose, we learn lessons that we forget with time. We end up sinking, derail from the right path, and then miss opportunities as we dread embarking on new waves, thanks to the depth of the wounds caused by those closest to us. But when we feel most disappointed in ourselves, we must be strong and remember we deserve happiness, justice, and success. This novel follows the life and journey of a young woman facing an unexpected pregnancy without support from anyone and choosing to chase her dreams anyway.
Oltobooks : What are your thoughts on writing a book series? Badiaa Hiresh : I love it, I did in the 5 short stories of Mommy, I AM a PACER, it connects you with the characters.
Oltobooks : What is your favourite positive saying? Badiaa Hiresh : Nothing will change until the day you take the first step. You are not alone!
Oltobooks : Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time? Badiaa Hiresh : Watching one of my books on the big screen, and in inspiration talks.
Oltobooks : What advice would you give to your younger self? Badiaa Hiresh : Keep your diary at your fingertips and document your life!
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