Jamila Ahmed is a Pakistani-American lawyer and writer whose writing focuses on the stories and histories of the South Asian and Muslim diaspora. Coming of age during the American wars and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan - and the attendant propaganda about the 'barbarity' of Islam - Jamila wanted to find novels that authentically reflected her experience as a young Muslim woman and the rich complexity of Islamic history. When she couldn't find any, she picked up her pen and began writing Every Rising Sun. Jamila is a graduate of Barnard College, where she studied medieval Islamic history, and Harvard Law School. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
A sumptuous, moreish novel infused with the joys of storytelling. A bold, heady journey into the riches and passions of Crusader history, presenting a fresh and fascinating Muslim perspective -- Leila Aboulela Richly imagined and sumptuously told . . . Ahmed deftly interweaves history and myth to create a world that is as compelling as it is magical. Every chapter leaves you eager to sit at Shaherazade's feet once more -- G. Willow Wilson, author of The Bird King A beautifully imagined and fiercely feminist retelling of a cherished classic . . . You won't want to miss Ahmed's gorgeous writing, this rich and vibrant world, and of course, Shaherazade, a timeless heroine who speaks with an urgency it's impossible to deny. I turned the last page grateful to be reminded of how during humanity's darkest nights, stories are what keep us alive -- V. V. Ganeshananthan, author of Brotherless Night Ahmed flawlessly weaves together countless threads to create a stunning tapestry revealing the bonds that tie people together and the deceptions that tear them apart. A gorgeous novel that rejoices in the legacy of the woman who tells tales -- Kirkus With imaginative creativity and embellishment of its 12th-century Persia setting, this novel is a striking testament to the power of stories * Library Journal * A vibrant spin on the Arabian classic One Thousand and One Nights . . . Ahmed brings new life to Shaherazade's thrilling tales * Publishers Weekly *