“I want people to know the power, the weight, and the importance of stories that are about women. I want girls to see inspiration in what their mothers, aunts, and sisters have achieved. I want us to see the history made all around us by women,” said Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, the author of “The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice."

News Center- The resistance of Kurdish women against ISIS has inspired many women all around the world. “I am so inspired by all the young women I met in Kobanî, Qamishli, Hassekeh, Raqqa, Tabqa, and so many other towns,” said Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, the author of “The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice.” We talked to her about her life and books.

·  First of all, we are greeting you and thanks for this chance to interview with you. Firstly, for those who do not know you, could you tell us about yourself? Who is Gayle Lemmon? What do you do? For example, out of authorship, do you have any pursuits?

I have the privilege of telling stories that show women’s lives and the importance of knowing the history women make. I grew up spending time in a community of women who persevered and who fought for what they believed in. My mother was an amazing person who worked two jobs to take care of me and to give me every opportunity. She taught me to respect others, even if they had different views, to treat everyone with dignity, to never give up, and to do all I could to do work that mattered. She died when I was 13, but her example is the one I think about most often. She was my role model, as was my grandmother.

I also love to be with my family and to read books. But I have a lot of work so I don’t have time for many other pursuits!

“Women’s stories matter to everyone, and too often we do not see them all”

·  We want to continue with a routine question; what is the meaning of authorship for you? When did you begin writing? How did you begin this? For you, is it a job or? What is/are your aim(s) with writing?

My hope is to change the way people see their world and to change the way we see women in our stories. Women’s stories matter to everyone, and too often we do not see them all. I gave this talk in 2011 that told the story of so many incredible women I have had the privilege of writing about, all around the world.

“I want people to know the power, the weight, and the importance of stories that are about women”

·  You have two books before now that both of them took part at the list of Best Sellers of NYT: “Ashley’s War” and “Dressmaker of Khair Khana”. In The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, you told the story of an Afghan woman that resisting the oppressive Taliban. Also in The Ashley’s War, you shared with us the untold story of a team of women soldiers on the special operations battlefield in Afghanistan. And now; you are preparing to present a new book which name is “The Daughters of Kobanî: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice”. With this book, you are telling a story about Kurdish women fighters that fought against ISIS. As we saw, in your books, there are many stories that women based. What do you want to tell us about this important point? And as you know, on the subject of women, there is a big contention and struggle in the world; especially in the Middle East. What can you remark us about these subjects?

I want people to know the power, the weight, and the importance of stories that are about women. I want girls to see inspiration in what their mothers, aunts, and sisters have achieved. I want us to see the history made all around us by women.

“I have written about women’s lives for 16 years”

This is also personal for me as my father is from the region and we had many many debates in my own family about the role of women and the importance of equality for girls and women before I even reached the age of 10! This book is in part dedicated to him.

·  Have you ever been to a war area? For example, in Afghanistan, Rojava Kurdistan, or anywhere? How did you bring/get these stories together?

I have had the privilege of traveling around the world and writing about women’s lives all around the world for 16 years, since 2005, for many news outlets in the US. I have traveled to and written about women entrepreneurs in Rwanda, social activists in Tanzania, child marriage and forced marriage in the US, military servicewomen in the US, girls’ education, women in the police, and maternal health in Afghanistan. All of these stories involve the privilege of earning trust from those whose stories you tell and working to shine a light on the incredible courage possessed by women.

·  The Daughters of Kobanî reflected by news at the duration of the sixth anniversary of Kobanî’s liberation. Did you choose/prefer this readily or is it only a coincidence?

Authors do not get to choose at all the timing of their book in the US. It is the publisher.

“This story inspired me the moment I heard of the women who resisted ISIS”

·  Well, why did you want to write this book? Why did you select Kurdish women to write? Which reasons were propelled you to this fact? And also why Kobanî?

This story inspired me the moment I heard of the women who resisted ISIS. I wanted to learn more. It has been my sincere privilege to spend time with the women of this history for the past three years and I have worked with my colleagues to make this story important, relevant, and accessible to US readers, who do not know this story. The Battle of Kobanî was important for the US and the world.

·  What do you know and what can you say about the Kurdish Women Struggle? Is there any Kurdish woman that you know; a politician, leader, commander, author, etc.? Do you communicate with them?

I have had the privilege of spending a lot of time with the women who are part of this history from the political and the military sides, and of remaining in contact with them for the last three years. They sometimes asked me, “Gayle, when will you finish this book?” because we sat for so many interviews in their offices and at their bases! I am deeply thankful for their time and perspective.

“Stories connect us to our world”

·  You know, there is a war that continues all over the world. Almost from all identities, women are in pain. On the other side, women are resisting. What do you feel/think about this dual truth and about femicide? How do you contribute to this struggle, out of writing?

I believe that stories connect us to our world. They bring us into other people’s experiences and illuminate their struggles. They are what bring us together and make us see the world through other people’s eyes. Women make history each day without receiving credit or attention and I work to do my part to document how they are changing their world.

“I hope we all can be deeply proud of seeing Kamala Harris as our vice president”

·  And Kamala Harris... The first woman and black vice president of the United States. Many people were excited. Firstly because Kamala Harris is a woman. Everyone knows that the first black president of The United States was Barrack Obama. So, what do you think about this? Many Kurds described this situation as de facto ‘equal presidential’. Isn’t it, what do you think? What is your opinion on the potentiality of Kamala Harris or any woman that being president of the US? If it happens, what will happen all around the world?

In the US there is a lot of attention on the Biden administration. The US is very focused on impeachment and on the tragedy of COVID.

Kamala Harris made history in the United States. This is a time of great division in the US, but I hope we all can be deeply proud of seeing her as our vice president. This is a new chapter in history with her as vice president, our first woman vice president

“The Daughters of Kobanî matters to all of us”

· And again we can continue with your book... Before presenting your last book, we saw Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s news about your book for developing a drama for TV. Some people reacted to this. On this subject, Hillary Clinton’s aim was found strange. We think you know why. Are these reactions right or not? What about you? Which thought(s) or aim(s) did your decision determine?

My responsibility is to the people who trust me with their stories and my job is to get their stories in front of as many people as possible to show why The Daughters of Kobanî matters to all of us. I want everyone in the world to know this story of women who persevered.

·  Your book attracted attention before it was published. Will you have your book translated into Kurdish and any other languages?

I am so inspired by all the young women I met in Kobanî, Qamishli, Hassekeh, Raqqa, Tabqa, and so many other towns.

It is my privilege to say that this book will be published in Qamishli in Kurdish and Arabic.

·  Before ending our interview; we hope that you will continue writing. Well, after Kobanî where will be your next station about stories of women’s resistance? Can you give us any clue?

I planned to write a book about the women I grew up with -my mother, my aunts, and all these women who struggled to raise children in the US in the 1980s- before I started working on this book. Perhaps I will write about them, but first, let us bring this book to as many people as we can so that as many people know this story as possible.