In God's Garden is a family saga. It spans the 1952 Revolution that ousted King Farouk and established the first republic in Egypt's seven thousand year history, as well as the three presidents who governed Egypt since: Gamal Abd al-Nasser, Anwar al-Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak. These times were turbulent. The story tells how a middle class family, occupied with day-to-day living, is pulled and tugged by shifts in policies. And what if the main character is a female coming of age in this conservative society that revolves around traditions and culture? What passions and worries rage within her? What dreams and hopes inspire her? Can she fulfill them? The story provides a window into her life and thoughts as they entangle with those of her family and society. The action-filled novel will interest students, scholars, and the literary public. Adolescent girls and women, in particular, will find Nadia's struggles exotically different yet familiar and poignant. The primary audiences for the novel are high school and college students, and adults enrolled in continuing education. It provides supplementary reading to curricula about Egypt, the Arab world, the Middle East, Middle Eastern women, and the Middle Eastern family. The general public will find it informative and enjoyable literary fiction.
About the Author: Mahassen Ahmad spent her childhood in a populace district in Alexandria, Egypt, immersed in folklore and fables that sparked her imagination. Since she learned how to read, she had spent as much time reading as staring in space, picturing what she was reading about. She carried this habit through a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic and Oriental Languages from Alexandria University, and four graduate degrees in education, audiovisual communication, and psychology, including a doctorate from Indiana University. Throughout her career, the author strived to use the magical effect of the word in communication. As a University Intern, she spent a semester at AT&T National Tele-training Center, in Cincinnati, Ohio, developing seminars for instructors and course developers. A Foreign Curriculum Consultant at Texas Education Agency, she developed secondary Arabic guidelines for the Texas school system; analyzed the presentation of the Arabic culture in Texas state-adopted social studies textbooks; and prepared and delivered workshops and presentations for staff-development, school districts, universities and associations. Being a Program Consultant at Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the author suggested improvements on Special Nutrition Programs' plans, training, handbooks, policies and procedures. In addition, Mahassen Ahmad had a long work experience as an Ain Shams University Professor in Egypt. She developed and delivered training for teachers and school administrators; conducted research on computer based instruction, adult literacy, and instructional technology and presented it in national and international conferences. She served on committees that developed curricula for teacher training programs at the national level and curricula for literacy and adult education funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). The author is a recipient of a Ford Foundation and a Fulbright Foundation grants, a Certificate of Recognition from Texas Special Nutrition Programs, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Department of Agriculture. She represented the United States Southwest Region on the board of the National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics from 1999 to 2003. Currently, she spends her time writing and public speaking on Egypt and Islam. She enjoys yoga, cooking, and gardening.