Book
Questions & Answers
Tragically, attacks on civilians in public places happen all too often. The story shows people cannot rely solely on the police; they must unite and help each other to survive. True heroes emerge in moments of crisis. The tale unfolds over four hours as Blue City residents come together, though most violent events flash by in minutes. By the time authorities arrive, the threat has already faded.
News stories reveal how ordinary people transform into heroes during hardship. One man rushed into a burning building to rescue children. Another armed citizen stopped a mass shooting. A doctor prevented a man from bleeding to death. These acts of courage inspired the story. I don’t have a real-life person who directly inspired any of the main characters. Many of my characters are based on multiple historical individuals.
Growing up in an Orthodox Christian family, I learned about powerful female saints like St. Mary, Mother of God; St. Mary Demiana, the Coptic Princess of Martyrs; and Mother Teresa, who served the poor. History and the Bible are full of strong women who changed the world. As an Egyptian, I cherish the proverb: ‘Behind a great man is a greater woman.’
My mother, grandmother, and many women in my family and community embody strength and dedication to service. Rebecca is more than a fictional character; she symbolizes a strong woman striving to uplift her community and build a brighter future for her children and grandchildren. The women who join her share this same powerful vision.
A happy, mentally healthy woman builds and strengthens her community and works hard to give her children a better future. “A mother is a school; if you prepare her well, you have prepared a people of noble roots. The mother is a garden; if the life-giving rain tends to it. With watering, it will blossom forth in the most lush bloom. The mother is the teacher of teachers—those very ones. Whose great deeds have filled the far reaches of the horizon.” Hafez Ibrahim, Egyptian Poet.