A Conversation with Nadia Hashimi - Author of City of Widows

We are absolutely thrilled to share this Q&A with the brilliant Nadia Hashimi, author of the gripping new release, City of Widows. our General Fiction Book of the Month for September Mystery Booxies. Nadia is Known for beautifully capturing the resilience of the Afghan people and drawing on her incredible background as a pediatrician, Nadia dives straight into the intense, high-stakes world of a female special forces unit during the fall of Kabul for her latest work. We had the privilege of asking her all about the deep human elements in her stories, the joyous Afghan traditions she wishes more people knew about, and, naturally, the perfect drink and snack to pair with the book for the ultimate Booxies reading experience. Grab your favourite beverage, settle in, and enjoy this fantastic conversation.

For our readers who haven’t picked up the book yet. Can you describe your new book City of Widows (your elevator pitch)?

[NH] At the center of City of Widows is Marjan, an Afghan woman and single mother who serves in the elite Female Tactical Platoon, a special forces unit within the Afghan National Army. Once a child bride, she juggles life as a young woman who escaped an abusive and powerful husband, raising her daughter, a gifted rubab player, in a world inhospitable to independent women. In the summer of 2021, she and the other women from her unit go from being the hunters to the hunted. The clock is ticking as the last evacuation flights leave the treacherous Kabul airport and Marjan’s homeland falls back into the hands of the Taliban.

2.      You balance an incredible background as a pediatrician with being a bestselling novelist. Does your medical background or your experiences in healthcare influence how you approach the deep human elements in your stories?

[NH] When I started writing, I was working shifts in a pediatric emergency room. My transition to full time writer was gradual and a bit intimidating at times. But there are skills that I draw upon in writing that came from my medical training and from learning how to sit with families in crisis or in joy. Our bodies manifest our emotions, the quickening of a pulse, the tension in our muscles, the throbbing in our temples. Besides the physical examination of the patient, it’s vital that a physician take a patient’s history. When I walked into a room to examine a child curled up with a tummy ache, I would ask a lot of questions to get to the source of the pain. When did it start? What else have you noticed? Who else lives at home? Tell me about your child’s past. I ask the same questions as a writer getting to know my characters in their moments of crisis or transition.

3.      Your writing so beautifully captures the resilience and spirit of the Afghan people. What is one aspect of Afghan culture, art, dish, or daily life that you wish more people around the world knew about?

[NH] The world sees mostly the heartbreaking stories of Afghanistan’s strife. I wish people could see our joy as well, perhaps through our weddings. Whether lavish or rather simple, there are meaningful traditions, like the unhurried entrance of the couple to the entrance song in which every other line is a plea to rejoice in this moment, to take in the gifts of this fleeting life. Walk slowly, my moon, walk slowly. The bride and groom regard themselves as a union in a mirror held for this precious moment. And, of course, the way the dance floor fills with guests ready to perform the traditional send off dance, the attan. All in a circle, joined by an ancient rhythm.

4.      If you could spend an afternoon having tea with any of the characters you’ve created across all your books, who would it be and why?

[NH] I would love to share an afternoon tea with Gulnaz, the green-eyed grandmother in A House Without Windows. When her daughter is accused of murdering her husband, Gulnaz pushes her way back into her daughter’s life and brings with her the black magic recipes she’s collected in her years, the ones that have made neighbors and relatives wary of crossing her. I’d love to know how to whip up a good revenge with a bird’s feather, a drop of oil, and a smudge of soot. (I just don’t know if I’d drink the tea unless I brewed it myself.)

5.      Now, If you could instantly transport yourself into the fictional world of any book for just 24 hours, where are you packing your bags for?

[NH] What world to visit? Considering this question, I’m realizing I read a lot of books set in times and places I would not want to visit. Historical fiction takes us straight into warzones and whenever I read a book about a tropical island, someone seems to get murdered. I’m perfectly happy to avoid the time of cholera, though I loved that book. I suppose I’d go back to a book I loved as a child, Her Majesty, Queen Hatshepsut, so I could visit Egypt in her ancient glory.   

6.      Since we are all about creating the perfect reading experience at Booxies, what drink or snack would you say pairs perfectly with reading City of Widows?

[NH] I’d say a juicy plum or a ripe peach. For those who’ve read the story, you’ll know that it begins and ends in the season of stone fruit. 

7.      What is a book you’ve read recently that you simply couldn’t put down?

[NH] The Elements by John Boyne. I love all his books and could not stop listening to this one on audiobook. The characters were complex, the scenarios gut wrenching, and I absolutely love the way he framed the connected stories around the natural elements. 

8.      Are you a "write in a busy cafe" author or a "write in complete silence" author?

[NH] I’m answering these questions as I sit on a very full train going from Maryland to New York. I’ve written in busy cafes, in my parked car, and in bed. I do like to have a bit of instrumental music – dramatic movie soundtracks work well. These days, I typically write seated on my couch with my feet up, my cat napping in the privacy of another room, and my dog asking to be on the other side of the door. 

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A massive thank you to Nadia for taking the time, whether from a busy train carriage or her couch, to share these wonderful insights with the Booxies community. City of Widows is a breathtaking testament to the strength of women, and it’s a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Ready to experience Marjan's journey for yourself? You can select City of Widows for your next Build Your Own Booxies gift box, ready to be paired with our favourite local artisan treats and drinks.