Interview with Jemil Metti

Author of Operation Olive Tree

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I am originally New York born,but not raised. My father was Iraqi; my mother born on the Hungarian side of Transylvania. My diverse background defines my origin having lived and been educated in three countries: The U.S., Lebanon, and Iraq. I currently reside in the peaceful, quiet community of Commerce Township, Michigan.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

After I was offered a job as a radio news broadcaster for WWWS, I moved from the State University of New York in Binghamton to the Saginaw Bay area in Michigan.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

The Middle East was still in turmoil by the time I reached 20. I was dealing with cultural and language issues that coiled my insides for several years, adding more and more adverse experiences to the pages of my diary. This particular process allowed me to find out how I perceived Iraq vs. how the United States perceived Iraq.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My first book – Perceptions Wars: Iraq from the Outside In – was my autobiography. It highlighted what it was like for me to be a monolingual American-born Iraqi, who upon arrival was illiterate and Arabic non-fluent! My second book – The Pahlavi Sword – was my first novel; it revealed the systematic torture of innocent prisoners and what happens to a SAVAK officer’s family when he tries to reform the system from within. Operation Olive Tree – my second novel celebrates the opera singing talents of an Israeli and a Palestinian student who tried to use it as an instrument for promoting peace; but, because of their conflicting backgrounds related to religion, territory and ethnicity, they ran into barriers!

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

My choice of topics make me feel a compelling responsibility for insisting that justice is universally adhered to. The idea being that we don’t have to belong to any specific faith, culture, or religion in order to condemn a predator nation preying on citizens of a weaker sovereign country.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

I will number my answers in the order of their learning impact on me:
1. When I self-publish, I also have to be well immersed in the world of business.
2. Despite my most detailed outlines, certain characters are elevated to major character even though that wasn’t part of the original outline.
3. Writing is the ongoing process of self-discovery.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

1. If you find yourself writing about a subject you know little about, research, research, research.
2. Enjoy the prospect of imagining what a place is like rather than worrying about what you don’t know.
3. Read more than you write. Writers are usually the world’s most avid readers.
4. The secret to good, solid writing is re-writing.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Since my stories are of global/regional concern, I would ideally like my books to reach millions of readers worldwide. I dream of the year when my books begin to earn the kind of global literary recognition to be translated into as many languages as possible.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

The biggest challenge I had was convincing an agent to take a chance on my book(s) and pitching them to a reputable publisher.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest strength in

a. writing: I am able to stay on task working through a complex outline of twists and turns that a page-turner of a story could muster.
b. Publishing: I am able to work very closely with editors no matter the length of time it takes; the experience is almost like waiting for a child to be born.
c. marketing: during my giveaways, I receive many more readers requesting for copies of my book than I have available.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest weakness in:
a. Writing: My inability to maintain a unique voice throughout the book; for example, instead of telling the reader, “The sky was blue with a few clouds.” it could be replaced with something like this, “The clouds weren’t just hanging in the sky like accidental ornaments, they were kissing the sky’s blue face.”
b. Publishing: My inability to release my book as quickly as I would like because of potential errors, editors missed, popping up in the book; this, after spending a pretty penny on the editing side of publication; such as, developmental editing, copy editing and proofreading.

When do you think you will write your next book?

My next book; my third novel is almost first-draft complete. I’m 270 pages into it. Revisions and edits have not been factored into the writing equation yet. But it does address the tragedies associated with the refugees crisis in the Middle East.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I am self published.