In today’s world, what significance do Zarina’s letters to the Prophet hold?
Interesting question. To be honest, while I conceived the book and when I was writing it, I gave no thought to its potential, so-called, “socially redeeming” value. I wanted to tell a story and I brought in elements that I found fascinating— some of my own experiences with mushrooms (not peyote), Sufi practices, reflections on unanswerable existential questions and, the saga of ordinary, intelligent, sensitive human beings looking to free themselves of human bondage. The idea of Zarina’s narration of her story through letters to the Prophet occurred to me as a literary device, since writing to someone who has, or has had, such a hold on your consciousness through your formative years, is like writing to a father figure, at once intimate but towards whom one feels awe, as well as anger and defiance, especially a liberated Muslim woman such as Zarina. Obviously, I had to place myself in her concocted life and feel as she might have. But I think writing to someone like the Prophet of your religion, whatever the religion may be, can be cathartic and liberating.