Online for Authors Episode 8-29-2024

​Life as an American in the Middle East: Challenges and Connections with Author Catherine W Rouhana

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Catherine W Rouhana, author of the book When the Fudge Trees Bloom. Cathy grew up in the ’50s and ‘60s in a three-bedroom row house in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the second of ten children, seven girls, and three boys. Yikes! You might say. Somewhat cramped? Well, yes, in retrospect. But children can always find a cubby hide-away to escape the chaos, (and maybe the chores). In the days before social media and even the days of the infancy of television, she and her siblings escaped into books. They were voracious readers and fought over the treasures brought home from a three-mile hike to the nearest library. Of course, the hiker had first dibs, but the rest was up for grabs.

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I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Catherine W. Rouhana, author of the captivating memoir "When the Fudge Trees Bloom", for my Online for Authors podcast. Cathy spent many years living in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon with her Lebanese husband in the '70s and '80s, and her story offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultures, traditions and turbulent history of the Middle East during that time period.

In our chat, Cathy shared how she went from being a young, adventurous American mother to navigating the closed society of Saudi Arabia where women had few rights. She spoke about the expatriate community that became her lifeline, secret church services held in her apartment, learning Arabic from her mother-in-law in the kitchen, and the warm embrace of her Lebanese family.

But Cathy's experiences in the Middle East were as bitter as they were sweet. She opened up about the loneliness of being far from home, losing herself to an unfamiliar way of life, and literally sitting under falling bombs for three terrifying days during conflicts in Lebanon, while still caring for her young children.

One of my favorite parts was hearing how Cathy's memoir got its unique title. While dating her husband, he adorably mixed up "fig" and "fudge" due to his limited English at the time, proudly telling Cathy about the "million fudge trees" on his mother's property in Lebanon. It was details like this that made her story so personal and relatable.

Cathy's memoir isn't just a collection of her experiences though - it's a poignant reflection on themes like the courage of women, the struggle to communicate, and how even the smallest choices can change the trajectory of our lives. She hopes readers will connect with feeling alone and invisible, while still finding sweetness amidst life's bitter struggles.

If you'd like to hear more of my enlightening conversation with Cathy, check out the full episode. And to keep the discussion going, head over to the Novels N Latte Facebook group, where you'll have a chance to win a digital copy of "When the Fudge Trees Bloom"!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this incredible story. Have you ever found yourself living in a completely foreign culture or navigating unimaginable circumstances far from home? Comment and let me know.

Here's to many more eye-opening reads!

P.S. Next up for Cathy? She's currently collaborating with her six granddaughters to write a fantasy novel they plan to finish by Thanksgiving! How amazing is that? If you'd like to connect with Cathy and follow her upcoming project, visit her website cathyrouhana.com.

Purchase a copy of When the Fudge Trees Bloom:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3AFWMNl​
eBook: https://amzn.to/47a1kHY

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