About the novel

In the Shadow of the Prophet is a novel set in the Middle East during the transition from paganism to Islam. It tells the tale of two sisters, Noor and Sawdah, whose lives are transformed by the changes in the world around them and by their own personal experiences. It is the first recipient of the San Diego Book Awards Chet Cunningham Spur Award for Unpublished Authors.

The novel is available for sale as a paperback, e-book and audiobook. The audiobook is also available as a TikTok Series.

Please consider making a donation to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund at www.PCRF.net or to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency at www.UNRWA.org.

Stories for Palestine

Leila pats down the soil around the olive tree’s slender base. She brushes the dirt from her hands and stands. 

“Hind!” She calls to the small girl wielding a long hose. “This one’s ready.”

“Okay Sittu!” Hind presses a lever and aims a long arc of water towards the young tree, splashing her grandmother in the process.

“Sorry Sittu!”

Leila shakes her head. “It’s only 20 steps. Maybe walk over next time.”

Hind nods and pretends to aim the nozzle at her grandmother again.

Leila laughs. “Come on. Leave that here. It’s time to watch the speech.”

She takes her granddaughter’s hand and they walk back to the small white adobe house. Leila notices the sticker the builders have left on one of the back windows and makes a mental not to remove it.

Inside, she clicks on the wall monitor to see thousands of people crowding into Dahdouh Plaza. She hears the last few words of the introduction.

“I present the new president of the Palestinian Republic.”

A small woman with long, dark hair steps to the podium. When the applause dies down, she says, “I’m Bisan from Ghaza. I’m still alive. Alhumdillah.” The crowd erupts with cheers. Bisan smiles her wry smile and waits.

Hind looks up at her grandmother, “Sittu, are you sad?”

Leila brushes the tears from her lashes and shakes her head. “No, Habibti. I am so very, very happy.”

Poems for Palestine

TICK…TOCK…Another click. Another like.
TICK…TOCK…Another follow. Another boost.
TICK…TOCK…Another post. Another view.
TICK…TOCK…Another thousand lives ended.

TICK…TOCK…Another press conference. Another lie.
TICK…TOCK…Another story. Another reel.
TICK…TOCK…Another video. Another photo.
TICK…TOCK…Another thousand homes destroyed.

TICK…TOCK…Another Live. Another repost.
TICK…TOCK…Another Go Fund Me. Another DM.
TICK…TOCK…Another troll. Another bot.
TICK…TOCK…Another thousand families displaced.

TICK…TOCK…Another dawn. Another day.
TICK…TOCK…Another night. Another attack.
TICK…TOCK…Another threat. Another siege.
TICK…TOCK…Another million dreams in ruins.

TICK…TOCK…Another mother. Another father.
TICK…TOCK…Another son. Another daughter.
TICK…TOCK…Another sittu. Another jiddu.
TICK…TOCK…And another and another and…

Print

Audio

About the author

A. Afaf was raised by a father who loved the history of his native country, Syria. The stories he told and history he taught her, kindled her desire to bring that world to life.

This is her first novel.