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 Montaha
Kochou
>>Second
Book: Will the Sun Rise Again? by Montaha Kochou
I-Biography:
Montaha Kochou,
fondly known as Mona to family and friends, introduces to the public,
her first, romance fiction, entitled, 'Burning Desire'. This Assyrian
native arrived in America in 1978, and although she had been writing
for most of her life, she developed a true love for the art in sixth
grade where she was ranked first out of 270 students in writing
composition. This achievement gave Mona the confidence to begin
story writing; consequently she has several novels finished and
ready to be published.
Coming from
a rich cultural background has been an added advantage in writing
'Burning Desire'
which focuses on a young Lebanese woman who arrives in America with
the longing and desire for a man she barely knows. "I used
my knowledge of cultural differences as they affect women and men
and the passion that women universally feel when they love."
Mona has six
siblings and has lived in Baghdad, Kuwait and Greece. "Being
Assyrian gives me such confidence; the first library was founded
in the Great Assyrian Empire which existed some 6,000 years ago.
Coming from that kind of historical heritage makes me proud and
assured," says Mona.
The characters
in 'Burning Desire' were developed from the many countries and personalities
that she has experienced during her travels. With a vivid imagination,
Mona has combined love, intrigue and passion to create a thoroughly
captivating first novel.
Mona lives in
Mount Prospect, Illinois with her husband Joseph Kochou, a handsome
Assyrian
man. They have three daughters, Josephine, Christine and Pauline.
"Everyone in my family and
community are excited for me since this book is like a child to
me. It was a blessing from God.
I gave birth to it, nurtured it, and now I hope everyone will say
my baby [book] is beautiful," says Mona.
Mona has just
completed the sequel to 'Burning Desire', entitled, 'Will The Sun
Rise Again' which deals more with the emotional and spiritual decisions
people have to make when love doesn't go their way. For now, however,
get ready to be captivated by 'Burning Desire. Release date September
2003.
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Burning
Desire: is the tale of three daughters of extreme
beauty and courage. Placed in the care of merciless relatives,
Nadia, Joseline, and Vera grow into three distinctly different
women, each with a vision of love until their bond is tested
when desire in the form of three men enters their lives. Love,
once such an innocent spurs lies, deception, and betrayal
as Nadia faces a choice between the promises to the man she
loves and the possibility of a future with an American. One
by one each sister will face her truth and loss of innocence.
From a city torn by religion and war comes the story of three
women whose cultural differences and newly found freedom in
America twist into a powerful story of love, hate, passion,
and betrayal.
This book is for anyone who had found, lost, and sacrificed
under the intense heat of their own Burning Desire.
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II - Extract of the book (Burning
Desire):
Beirut, the war-torn capital of Lebanon,
lies on the Mediterranean coast surrounded by the Cedar mountians.
Majestic pine trees solider the mountain tops, keeping watch over
this ancient city and its history. The scent of pine lays heavy
in the air, with every breath filling the lungs and mind as it cleanses
the senses and lifts the spirit. Sweetness coats the pine scent
with apples, oranges and lemons, all lending their aroma and color
to the narrow streets of the city. Aged, brick homes that appear
in shades of copper, sand and red, line the streets while boasting
pleasant balconies that are heavy with dangling greenery and blossoming
flowers. Its not uncommon to see people sitting and reading peacefully,
drinking Turkish coffee, or simply enjoying a moment of contemplation.
Many Middle Eastern people and tourists vacation in Lebanon because
of its climate and beauty, even though Lebanon experienced massive
physical and emotional destruction during a civil war between its
two religions. Until 1974 Christians and Moslems lived relatively
at peace with one another. The war left the country and its people
with economical and spiritual wounds for years to come.
In 1960, in one of the more subtle neighborhoods in Beirut, Saleem
Al Khoury stood on his apartment's balcony, staring past the fruit
tree-lined streets to a point far off in the distance. It was late
afternnon and a soft darkness edged the horizon as it made its way
across the sky and over the city. Saleem took a deep breath, passing
his fingers through his dark hair. As he looked below, he watched
for a moment as people strolled by, enjoying the cool breeze of
a June evening in Beirut.
He couldn't enjoy the sights, smells, or feel of the night approaching
for his financial problems weighed on his heart and mind. He turned
and walked with lazy footsteps inside his home, theough the living
room, and into the bedroom. Standing by the open door of the room,
he looked at his beloved and paralyzed wife, Norma.
"I'm going to Kuwait," Saleem said sadly, pausing for
a moment to wait for his wife's reaction.
Norma turned her head toward Saleem, silently searching his face
as she waited for him to continue.
"There, I'll be able to find a good job." He breathed
deeply, adding, "When I have enough money saved, I will return."
Norma watched as the lines in his face that she had come to love
grew deeper.
"But, what will the kids and I do?" Norma asked miserably.
"You'll stay with your brother, Elias," Saeelm said sadly,
knowing it was not the most pleasant of situations in which to place
his family.
Elias, younger than Norma by ten years, was a selfish and mean man.
Beside Elias, there was Lisa, Norma's sister who wasn't much better
than he was. Lisa, who is almost seven years older than Norma, was
an old maid, mean selfish and without mercy in her heart. Her face
was stoic; a smile never crossed he lips. She was lazy, lying about
the couch all day and night reading the Bible, but sadly, never
hearing the Spirit because of her cold soul.
"Do whatever you think is right." Norma said unhappily,
fearing the idea of staying with her brother and sister, knowing
in her physical state that she would be mentally abused and unable
to protect her daughters from the same or worse.
Saleem and Norma have three beautiful daughters. Vera, the oldest
and most responsible at 12 years of age is a soft-spoken girl with
medium length brown hair and large brown eyes while her seven-year
old sister, Joseline, was blessed with a lighter complexion, hazel
eyes and sandy brown hair. But it is Nadia, the baby, who receives
all the attention. Even at the age of five her exotic looks, long
blond hair and sparkling emerald green eyes make her the most beautiful
amongest her sisters.
From the moment Saleem turned away, Vera took all responsibilty
for her mother and sisters upon her frail shoulders. Though they
were used to not receiving much affection from their mother because
of her illness or their father because he was always working, it
was still painful to see Saleem leave. She, her sisters and mother
would share a small room in the back of the house; barely big enough
for one large bed much less their suitcases. As soon as they moved
in, their uncle and Lisa divided the work between Vera and Joseline.
Lisa sent Vera to take care of her mother and ordered Joseline to
begin cleaning the little house they lived in.
One day, Vera made a doll. She put two sticks together as a cross
and covered them with cloth. Joseline was thrilled to see it and
picked it up to play with it. Nadia came and grabbed it from her,
and they both ended up fighting for the doll. When Elias approached
it was Joseline he slapped, snatching the doll out of her hand and
giving it to Nadia. Joseline started screaming and crying for the
doll.
"Shut up you dump, ugly thing!" He screamed, slapping
her again.
Joseline kept crying and screaming. Lisa then came and slapped Joseline.
"Shut up! You dirty, dumb monster!" Lisa yelled, pulling
her hair.
"I got it first, I want it back," Joseline whined, ignoring
Lisa's screaming. Lisa grabbed a belt and began wickedly striking
Joseline over and over.
"Shut up! No-good monster! Ever since you were born, it's been
nothing but bad luck for this family!" Lisa was hitting and
screaming so hard that her words spit out like sharp daggers between
her heavy breathing. "You 're the reason your mother can't
walk. Your name should be 'bad luck' not Joseline!" Joseline
lay helplessly on the floor, trying to cover her head from the razor
sharp crack of the belt until these words sank in.
When Joseline heard this, her cries died instantly in her throat.
She ran to her mother with tears streaming down her eyes. Only now
she wasn't crying from the ache of the beating; Joseline was crying
from a worse pain, a pain that would never heal nor leave her in
the days and years to come. this idea, this thought, so sinfuly
planted in Joseline's heart, took root.
"Mom, did I make you sick? Am I bad luck?" She shrieked.
"No honey, you are not bad luck. Darling you have nothing to
do with me being sick," Norma cried, hugging her and caressing
her hair. "Lisa said that becuase she's upset. It is not true."
The answer from her mother didn't comfort her at all; they couldn't
uproot what had already laid calim to her heart. It would not be
until she was a grown woman that one senseless act of verbal abuse
would start to diminish.
Saleems' daughters grew into three beautiful young ladies. Nadia
was the most ravishing among her sisters standing 5'7" with
thick, long, wavy blond hair and a natural tan that attracted even
more attention. Her emerald eyes remained large and bright, crowned
with arching eyebrows and balanced with thick lips. When she walked
down the street, everyone turned their heads. Her confidence in
herself only emphasized her natural beauty. She was very intelligent;
everyone called her the brain of the family. She was almost sixteen
years old although she behaved much older than she was. Her soul
seemed wise for her actual age. Full of courage and determination,
no one, or nothing, could stop her when she wanted something.
"My mother never had a good life, all of us suffered so much.
I simply wish she could be here now."
"Vera. she is here in this face I'm looking at; in these eyes
I lose myself in and in the woman I am about to marry. She is here,"
he said, while placing his hand on her heart. "And she will
be with you on our wedding day," he smiled.
They sat and spoke through the night, sharing pains and promises
until the moon rose high above them, lighting the smooth glassy
water separating Vera from her home here, and her future home, an
ocean away.
>>NEXT>>
Second Book: Will the Sun Rise Again? by Montaha Kochou<<
Press Arabic Articles, Al Balad News Paper, 29 June 2004. Number: 184
Book available here: http://www.intimepublishing.com/press/kochou.shtml
Order the Book from Amazon.com
montahakochou.com
Contact: mona102255@hotmail.com
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