(Makroud el Louse)
The joy — and challenge — of writing THE WIND THIEF was the research involved. I had to quantify this aspect of the book for a press release, and here’s the result:
Number of research resources: 97
Type of research:
Tabla lessons
Maps
Nonfiction books
Articles
Personal interviews
Museum exhibits
Websites
Music
Subjects
Places: Africa, India, Brazil, Argentina, Jamaica
Languages: Arabic, Berber, Hindi, French, Portuguese, Greek
Religions: Islam, archaic northern African
Weather: wind, wind folklore, air temperature/pressure/currents, global warming, acid rain, seasons, natural disasters
Ocean: currents, weather, shipping
Activities: wind surfing, rock climbing
Cuisine: Algerian, Moroccan, Argentinean
Music: tabla, Moroccan instruments, Algerian flute, terms
Crime: petty crime, con games, biological warfare
Though all the research was engrossing, the most tasty was that involving food: naan, tagines, Moroccan pastillas, Argentinean mate.
For my An Evening in the Sahara Desert: Food, Photos and Reading from THE WIND THIEF, at 4 p.m. Sat., May 29, I’ll be bringing Makroud el Louse. The Algerian almond cookies, featured in above photo, that reflect the French influence of that country. I made them yesterday and the hint of orange flower water is outrageous.
For book clubs members — or any reader/foodie/Julia Child wannabe — who would like to conclude reading THE WIND THIEF with a dinner/discussion featuring food from where the story takes place, I’ll be bringing a list of recipes for your enjoyment.
Food is always an integral part of my research, because eating awakens every sense, and in turn awakens sensuality, the basis for passion involving place, people and circumstance. Sensuality, and specifically the sensual books that have influenced my writing, will be the topic of my next post on May 23.
Until then, happy eating and reading.
(If you're a writer, feel free to visit my Q & A site for writers.)
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