Category Archives: Blog

Goodreads

Such a lovely surprise that my book THE GIFT OF RUMI: Experiencing the Wisdom of the Sufi Master is #1 in all these categories on Goodreads: Must Read Sufi Classics, Women in Sufism, People of Islam, and Classics from the Islamic World, Religion Published in Decade: 2020s, Persian Poetry in English Translation, and Books Every Muslim Should Read. If you haven’t bought it yet, the book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan.

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Full Moon

I bundled up to bring Abu to the beach to watch the sunset and rise of the full moon — he’s small enough that I can put him in a big pocket or cuddle him close in a fleece.

My friends and I brought rose spritzers and plopped down in beach chairs for a front-row seat to a breathtaking sunset and massive moon.

Abu was glad to be joined by his best beach friend — a sweet 13 year old dog (who yesterday went on a surprising running spree in giant circles on the beach).

After running on the beach all afternoon with his friend, Abu was more than ready to be snuggled close for the best show on earth — a sun setting over the Pacific on one side, and a magnificent moon rising on the other.

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Amazon Bestseller

Wow, this is beyond my wildest dreams — my book is not only the #1 bestseller on Amazon in New Releases on Sufism (as well as #1 in Middle Eastern Poetry & Religious Poetry New Releases) but also the #4 Bestseller in Sufism overall! Many thanks to all the readers who have bought my book, The Gift of Rumi — Rumi’s poetry is best medicine for all our aching and yearning hearts. If you haven’t bought it yet, the book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan and bookstores across the globe.

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Hayat’s Kitchen

I went with a friend this week-end to Hayat’s Kitchen for some very delicious Lebanese food that was so good it made me feel like I was back in Beirut — highly recommend!

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Love of Friends

Love this! My friends have been receiving my book and sending me photos of them holding it — so cool! I included a whole chapter on friendship in my book, as Rumi found friendship essential on the spiritual path.

The encouraging words of friends warm my heart:

“Your book is a hit! I’m telling you the timing is so good. The world is suffering so much right now. So nice to get a break from it & dive into Rumi. Congrats. You have done a good thing for humanity. That’s the greatest thing anyone can do, touch hearts.”

I was convinced (with good reason) while writing this book in China & Tibet that I was soon dying — so to be alive & well and see it finally published feels truly miraculous. I wrote it from the point of death so that I could leave behind a little bit of beauty in my wake. The book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan and bookstores across the globe.

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Rumi at Literati

Literati Bookstore said my book event for THE GIFT OF RUMI a few days ago was one of their best-attended virtual events this year! The book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan and bookstores across the globe.

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The Gift of Rumi

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#1 on Amazon

Wow, I am so touched that my new book, The Gift of Rumi: Experiencing the Wisdom of the Sufi Master, is #1 in three categories right now on Amazon. I wrote the book to bring some comfort and inspiration to yearning and sorrowful hearts so I could die knowing I tried to make the world a little bit better — to have it be so well-received and widely read is a nice surprise.

The book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan and bookstores across the globe.

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Gift of Rumi

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Soundbath in Venice

Abu enjoyed his first soundbath — on a rooftop in Venice Beach! He’s come a long way from his abusive early days (two scratched corneas and starvation!) in China. I didn’t know how he would respond to the soundbath, but he totally loved it — he slept and snuggled in many blankets through the whole two hour meditation (with an array of sounds from soundbowls and shakers). When it ended, Abu was so disappointed, as he was so chilled out! He didn’t want to get up! He was the last sentient being present to finally return to “reality” — we wished it had lasted all night!

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The Gift of Rumi

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Literati

It was such an honor and joy to speak about my new book, The Gift of Rumi, at Literati Bookstore in conversation with Dr. Nahid Siamdoust — whose brilliant book, Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran (published by Stanford University Press) I highly recommend!

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Publishers Weekly

Very grateful for this wonderful review from Publishers Weekly of my new book, available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Macmillan and bookstores across America (and Europe apparently!).

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Beach Baby

Abu is a total beach baby — he loves his long beach walks, surf lessons, and sunset snuggles…

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