Featured Interview With Gretchen Elhassani
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. I met my husband there, and I raised my children there. I currently live in North Carolina. We do not have any pets.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have been writing since elementary school. When I was in kindergarten, I begged my teacher for a few extra composition books and filled them with poems about Winnie the Pooh.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I used to read fiction. I have loved Anne Rice & Tamora Pierce. Currently, I have been reading non-fiction. Anything quirky, interesting but down to earth. I also have a sweet spot for financial stories…I know. Strange, right? I really enjoyed Lost Bank by Kirsten Grind.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
I am Muslim. I was really involved in the mosque in my hometown, I was on the board, and I helped out with the Sunday school program. I learned that I was going to move to North Carolina, and I thought, you know, I’m never going to find a group of friends quite like these. Maybe I’m never going to be as central to a community like this again. So I spent the last year meeting with people in their homes, at their jobs, over the phone. I interviewed dozens of individuals, from the founders of the mosque to local elected officials to my own parents. I hope I’ve answered some questions such as: what’s it like in a mosque in America, and how do parents of a convert feel around Christmas time?
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