Second Chances and Shared Roots

Author Reem Kashat self-published her new book.

Reem Kashat’s journey into women’s fiction

By Paul Natinsky

“Write about what you know”—it’s an old writer’s axiom, and Reem Kashat is doing just that.

In June, Kashat published her debut novel in the women’s fiction genre, Forgive and Remember, a self-published work that explores the lives of three generations of Chaldean women. Each generation faces the challenges of modern life from distinct perspectives, yet they all share common roots.

The novel delves into hot-button issues within Chaldean culture. As described on her website, reemkashat.com, the story follows Mariam Shammas, a woman who survives a strict Chaldean Catholic upbringing, a forced marriage, a sick husband, and the responsibility of raising her daughter alone. As her daughter, Tamara, approaches college graduation, Mariam is finally free to create her own path. But when tragedy brings home the only man she’s ever loved, Mariam learns that their one teenage indiscretion has profound, far-reaching consequences.

Kashat doesn’t write on these themes to shock or make a political statement. Instead, she aims for empathy and relatability.

“I like to bring emotion out of people. I like for my work to make you feel and to have all of the experiences that the characters are going through,” says Kashat. “I just want you to be able to experience them in that way. So, I want you to be able to feel when she’s low and feel high when she’s high. I want you to root for her.”

Raised by a strict father, Kashat reflects on her upbringing, which involved early curfews and tight restrictions on visits to friends’ homes—rules that lasted well into her college and working years. In her world, dating was frowned upon, and the first time a family met a young woman’s boyfriend was when he was ready to propose marriage. While Kashat acknowledges that not all families followed such strict traditions, she points out that these cultural norms still hold strong for many.

“The story rings true to a lot of what happens,” Kashat says. “It’s very different (from mainstream culture) and I wanted to explore that in this story. I wanted to show how Mariam in her 40s had a very strict dad. That was a thing and it’s still a thing.”

At 45, Kashat notes that much has changed over the past two decades. Families seem more open now, with boyfriends and girlfriends meeting and socializing with the family much earlier than in the past.

Kashat grew up in Oak Park during the timeframe she writes about and still calls the city home. Her day job is working as a program manager in healthcare, although she has a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing.

Writing women’s fiction inspired by her Chaldean heritage is a recent shift for Kashat. She began her writing career in 2011, penning contemporary romance stories and short fiction under the pen name Sage Spelling. When she transitioned to women’s fiction, she wanted to showcase her cultural background, adopting a new pen name—Kashat. (Her birth name is Reem Fransis.)

Kashat shares the story behind her pen name: When her father emigrated from Iraq in 1978, his name incorporated his first name, his father’s first name, his grandfather’s first name, and the family name. However, clerks were required to assign only three names per person, so the family name was dropped. When Reem chose her new pen name, her father was thrilled to see their family name restored.

So far, Forgive and Remember has sold about 50 copies. The book is available as an eBook through Kashat’s website and on platforms like Kindle and Nook, as well as on-demand print versions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The eBooks are priced around $8, while the print editions are priced similarly to hardcover bestsellers. Kashat receives a percentage of each sale.

Although sales have been modest so far, Kashat anticipates they will pick up with renewed marketing efforts. She initially had a slow start due to family matters that required her attention, which meant forgoing early promotional events.

When asked about her ambitions for Forgive and Remember, Kashat said a major theme of her work is second chances.

“Happily ever after doesn’t only have to come when you’re young,” she explains. “You can find it in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. Happily ever after is for everyone.”

Reem is currently working on a sequel to Forgive and Remember and envisions the intergenerational saga as a series, so readers can expect more to come.

CAPTION:

Author Reem Kashat self-published her new book.