Interview: Jamilah Kolocotronis

St. Louis, Missouri is the home town for Jamilah Kolocotronis, who grew up as Linda, the daughter of a second-generation Greek man and a woman of German heritage. Her parents raised her and her sisters in the suburbs, where they attended a Lutheran elementary school. Linda has always loved books. Her mother read to her often when she was little, and as she grew, she discovered the magic of writing as well. She earned her Associate of Applied Science in Human Services. Soon after his graduation, Jamilah's husband began his career in Islamic education, and as their children grew, she worked with him, teaching social studies at Islamic schools. Over the years they had six sons (and no daughters), and now live in Lexington, Kentucky, where Jamilah's husband is the principal of an Islamic school and Jamilah stays home and writes.

Umm Junayd: Assalaamu 'alaikum Jamilah, welcome to the An-Najm Blog.

Jamilah Kolocotronis: Wa 'alaikum salaam.


U.J: I understand that you are a writer of Islamic fiction, and have authored several books. Tell us a little more about your work.

J.K: My first novel, Innocent People, was written in reaction to the Islamophobia following 9/11. This book portrays an American Muslim woman, her Southeast Asian husband and their five sons, and shows how they and their friends cope with the stress in the year following 9/11. Great emphasis is placed on the innocence of many, from all sides.

Echoes is the first book of the Echoes Series. The main character, Joshua Adams, is 23 years old and, by all accounts, a loser. After his wife throws him out, he turns to some Muslim guys he knows from a job he once held. They take him in and give him the space he needs to work through his demons. Eventually, they teach him about Islam. After his conversion, Joshua looks forward to a new live but the echoes of his past continue to haunt him.

In Rebounding, Joshua is eleven years older and has settled down with his new wife and children. His faith is strong and his life is good until the day he is falsely arrested on charges of terrorism. Throughout the ordeal, including time in a federal prison, Joshua holds onto his faith in order to survive.

At the beginning of Turbulence, tragedy strikes the family. Joshua and his second brother, Chris, depend on their faith to help them but the oldest brother, Brad, feels helpless and alone. He descends into a world of nightmares until his own survival is in question. On the way to self-destruction, Brad's journey becomes an odyssey as he searches for answers.

Ripples tells the story of the next generation: Brad's son, Kyle; Chris's son, Isaiah, and Joshua's daughter (by his first marriage) Jennifer. The three cousins, who are close in age, have always been good friends. As they approach adulthood, each faces a special challenge.

Silence, the last book in the Echoes Series, has not yet been published and I don't want to give too much away. Joshua continues to grow, and to struggle, as he has since the beginning.

U.J: When did you first consider yourself a writer? Was it a light bulb moment, or something that had been brewing for a long time?

J.K: For me it has been a process.

When I was in fourth grade, our teacher told us to bring a poem to put into an anthology. I decided to write my own. My teacher and others raved over it. That's the first time I remember wanting to be a writer.

When I was fourteen I earned $100 from my first job as a summer counsellor. From that, I spent $25 on my first typewriter. Every night I stayed up late, typing away. Throughout high school I wrote poems, short stories, and plays. I even wrote a novel. Most of my early work has never seen the light of day, and what I did dare to send out was rejected.

In college and after I wrote non-fiction works, including my doctoral dissertation, papers to deliver at conferences, and curriculum. I wanted to write fiction, but between teaching and raising kids there was never enough time. Soon after 9/11 I realized that life is too short. The following May I retired from teaching and in September, when my kids had gone back to school, I made myself sit down for at least two hours each day and write.

U.J: Do you write works in any other genre apart from fiction?

J.K: I've dabbled with poetry, but it's not my strength.

My first published book was the non-fiction work, Islamic Jihad. I have at least three ideas for future non-fiction books. Right now I'm not sure how soon I'll tackle those projects. I have written the opening page for one of these books.

U.J: Writers sometimes say that they learn from their writing, and that it is only through reading that one becomes a better writer. Would you say that this is true for yourself?

J.K: I've always been a voracious reader. When I was little my mother didn't drive and our family could afford only one car. She regularly walked with my sisters and me to the local library, which was at least a mile from our house. My childhood was full of books.

When I decided to write full-time, back in 2002, I checked out popular books from the library to read not only for enjoyment but also to learn contemporary styles. In the beginning I was careful not to read while I was writing because I didn't want to accidentally copy another author's style. I think I've learned more from reading the works of others than I could learn from books or even conferences about writing.

I still go to the library at least once a week and I also buy books when I can.


U.J: What kind of books do you tend to read, and why?

J.K: I read mostly fiction, though I'm always on the lookout for an interesting non-fiction book. My tastes range from suspense to chick-lit, depending on the author and the story. There are some well-known authors I read, such as Jodi Picoult and Dean Koontz, but I really enjoy walking past the library shelves and seeking out little-known gems. I look for an interesting main character, a nice plot twist, and a writing style that doesn't make me feel like grabbing a red pen.


U.J: When writing your books, what has been your number one aim to gain from them?

J.K: When I decided to sit down and write, back in 2002, I also made the intention that everything I wrote would promote Islam.


U.J: How important have readers been in shaping your Echoes series? Have they provided ideas or comments that you have taken on board?

J.K: The most important reader contribution was in creating the series. I intended to write only Echoes, but readers began asking me, "What comes next?" I imagined a future life for Joshua and the other characters, and went from there. When Rebounding was finished I asked my son to recommend a continuance, based on the final pages of that book. While I was writing Turbulence I decided to end the series at five books.

The prevalence of Jennifer's character in Ripples was also encouraged by readers who told me they'd like to see more of her.

Recently I made a decision based on what I thought my readers would say. My son suggested that I kill off a major character. I wrote four different drafts of the book, each including the death. The plots worked, but something didn't feel right. I considered how my readers would feel about this development and decided to let the character live.


U.J: If you could go back and re-write any of your books, which would it be, and why?

J.K: Turbulence is a personal favourite of mine, but it hasn't been well-received by most of my Muslim readers. Some day I may go back and figure out what I need to do to make the story more engaging.

On the other hand, non-Muslim readers have said this is their favourite book.

I've also thought of rewriting my first novel, Innocent People. Because it was my first, I made many mistakes. In general, though, that book has been well-received.


U.J: Who are the intended readers of your books, and how have you managed to reach out to them with your work?

J.K: When I started writing, my ideal reader was male, 18 to 25 years old. I based this on my experience as the mother of sons. For years I've been frustrated that my boys didn't have anything Islamic to read after Invincible Abdullah.

My readers surprised me, though. They are mostly female and range in age from 14 to 70-plus. Some men have read my books, including my husband, but they are far outnumbered. Only one of my sons, my 15-year old, has read all of my books so far.

I also wanted to write material that would be meaningful to both Muslims and non-Muslims. I'm careful to explain those rituals that Muslims take for granted. At the same time, most of my main characters are strong Muslims. I've received very positive feedback from non-Muslim readers (including, of course, my mother). In fact, I just received a nice note from an older non-Muslim woman who was introduced to my books through my niece. She has read the earlier books in the series and is anxious to read Ripples.


U.J: What has been the turning point in your writing career, and what would you say is the greatest hurdle you have had to jump?

J.K: My greatest hurdle is marketing. Readers won't pick up my books if they don't know about them or aren't convinced of their merit. I'm not a natural salesperson and have a hard time thinking of new ways to promote my books. Approaching people is even harder for me. I belong to an online group called The Shy Writer, started by Hope Clark who has a book by that name. We don't post often. I suppose we're not very social.

I must add that I was also surprised by the reluctance of some Muslims to embrace Islamic fiction. When I taught social studies I yearned to find books to help my Islamic school students relate to the world. Not everyone sees the value in this genre.

The major turning point in my career, I think, is yet to come. Now that I've written the last book of the Echoes Series, I'm planning to get a literary agent to help me with my next book. I've already started on this novel, but it's too early to give any details.


U.J: What has been the response to your books from readers and the larger Muslim community?

J.K: My readers send me encouraging messages about my books. I'm always happy to hear from them, whether the feedback is positive or negative, but I'm especially glad when they enjoy my work. One of the most touching messages was one I received from a 14-year old girl who said Echoes helped her in her Islamic identity. I'm also excited when a reader anxiously asks about the next book in the series.

The response from the larger Muslim community has been mostly positive. For two years in a row I was invited to be part of the Meet the Author program at the ISNA Convention. Articles about my books have appeared in Azizah, Islamic Horizons, and Al-Jumuah magazines. Teachers and principals are becoming increasingly interested in placing my books in their school libraries.

For some Muslims, though, Islamic fiction is still something strange and not quite acceptable. Attitudes are slowly changing and I'm very glad for this. Even if the parents don't quickly embrace Islamic fiction, their children often do.


U.J: For those who are interested in your work, where can they find out more about you, and purchase your book?

J.K: I would like to invite everyone to check out my website at www.jamilahkolocotronis.com. From there you will also find links to my blogs.

My books can be purchased through via the Publisher's website: www.MuslimWritersPublishing.com, and also from Islamicbookstore.com and Halalco. Barnes & Noble (online) also carries my books, as does Amazon. Anyone who wants a signed copy is welcome to place an order through my email (echoes_series@yahoo.com) or my website. And, of course, they can always buy my books through An-Najm Publishers.


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