Saffron Dreams

Arissa Illahi, a Muslim artist and writer, discovers in a single moment that life itself chooses one's destiny. After her husband's death in the collapse of the World Trade Center, the discovery of his manuscript marks Arissa's reconnection to life.

Violet Moore is in love with a man who hates her. Well, to be fair, she kinda deserves it. On her eighteenth birthday, she got drunk and threw herself at him, causing a huge scandal in their sleepy suburban town. Now everyone thinks she's a slut and he has disappeared. Rumor has it that he's been living up in the mountains of Colorado, all alone and in isolation. But Violet is going to make it right. She's going to find him and bring him back. No matter how cruel and mean he is, how much he hurts her with his cold-hearted and abrasive ways, she won't give up. And neither will she think about his tempting lips or his sculpted muscles or his strong hands. The hands that she wants on her body, touching her, feeling her skin ... The hands that make her want to forget everything and kiss Graham Edwards - Mr. Edwards, actually - again. Because you don't go around kissing your best friend's dad, do you? Even though that's all you ever dream about. NOTE: A STANDALONE novel set in the world of Heartstone.

Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing (Vol. II, No. 2) April 2010 "Recovering The Self" is a quarterly journal which explores the themes of recovery and healing through poetry, memoir, essays, Opinion, fiction, humor, media reviews and psycho-education. Areas of concern include aging, disabilities, health, abuse recovery, trauma/PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Contributors come from around the world to provide a mirror of the experience of peoples of all cultures and beliefs. This issue explores a number of areas of concern including: Complementary and Alternative Therapies Combat Veterans and PTSD Overcoming jealousy Mental illness Addiction Parenting Eldercare Psychotherapy Media reviews Abuse Recovery and much more! Acclaim for "Recovering The Self" "Editor Ernest Dempsey does an admirable job of pulling this material together in a pleasing shape. Each piece offers a revelation, insight, or lesson for the reader to take away. The writing throughout is excellent." --Janet Riehl, author "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary" "I highly recommend a subscription to this journal, "Recovering the Self, " for professionals who are in the counseling profession or who deal with crisis situations. Readers involved with the healing process will also really enjoy this journal and feel inspired to continue on. The topics covered in the first journal alone, will motivate you to continue reading books on the subject matter presented. Guaranteed." --Paige Lovitt for Reader Views Visit us online at www.RecoveringSelf.com Published by Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealing.com Periodicals: Literary - Journal Self-Help: Personal Growth - Happiness

Saffron Dreams is Aliakbarkhani's fourth poetry collection that explores cultural expectations, immigration, and the inevitable struggle of trying to reconcile one's identity in the West with roots firmly planted in the East. Saffron Dreams shares equal parentage with hope for the future and the importance of remembering one's past. In her lyrical and delicate poetic style, Aliakbarkhani grasps at hard topics--like cultural erasure, religious persecution, women's rights--from the gaze of the middle eastern diaspora. Her powerful imagery transports readers to the mountains of Alborz, the shores of the Caspian Sea, and the bustling bazaars of Tehran, before returning them home in comfort. Saffron Dreams is an intimate celebration of identity and culture that takes readers to far away lands while meeting them deeply in the familiar with love. Saffron Dreams is an offering of chai and dates. A family tapestry bound in white pages. A literary homecoming.

“Glorious.” —Kirkus Reviews A colorful journey of self-discovery and identity, this sweet, vibrant picture book follows young Leila as she visits her grandmother’s house for their weekly family dinner, and finds parts of herself and her heritage in the family, friends, and art around her. Sometimes I’m not sure if I like being me. When Leila looks in the mirror, she doesn’t know if she likes what she sees. But when her grandmother tells her the saffron beads on her scarf suit her, she feels a tiny bit better. So, Leila spends the rest of their family dinner night on the lookout for other parts of her she does like. Follow Leila’s journey as she uses her senses of sight, smell, taste, touch to seek out the characteristics that make up her unique identity, and finds reasons to feel proud of herself, just as she is.

Through specific and rigorous analysis of contemporary literary texts, this book shows how writers from inside affected communities portray indigeneity, displacement, and trauma. In a world of increasing global inequality, this study aims to demonstrate how literature, and the study of it, can effect positive social change, notably in the face of global environmental, economic, and social injustice. This collection brings together a diverse and compelling array of voices from academics leading their fields around the world, to pioneer a new approach to literary analysis anchored in engagement with our changing world.

This book addresses the religious treatment of violence. In order to pursue an understanding of the relationship between Buddhism and violence, it is important to first explore how Buddhist scriptures and followers understand violence. The author explores the ways in which Buddhists invoke, support, or justify war, conflict, state violence, and gender discrimination. In addition, the book examines the ways in which Buddhists address violence as military chaplains, cope with violence in a conflict zone, and serve as witnesses of blasphemy to Buddhist doctrine and Buddha images.--Publisher's description.