Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about.An extraordinary, cinematic saga of rags-to-riches-to-revolution that follows an orphan girl coming of age in Iran at a time of dramatic upheaval It is the 1950s in a restless Iran, a country rich in oil but deeply divided by class and religion. Read the latest Metro Vancouver arts HERE to report a typo.“I am always trying to understand that.” Related It’s back to that thing I said earlier - I have always seen the world as these two things existing in one.

“I don’t know how much power it will have. Hozar still feels pulled in two directions. It was with the intent to do good, but now that it has happened I do feel a little bit guilty.” I mean generally giving some voice to the voiceless.

I shouldn’t maybe, because the whole purpose of writing this novel was to I guess speak for people who could not speak for themselves. And now I’m getting some accolades, I suppose, and support, there’s a little bit of a sense of guilt going on. “I mean it is fictional but is based on things that happened to real people. I am very, very fortunate and lucky, but you know I am sort of writing about a place and people and situations where a lot of people have suffered and had their lives destroyed. Not because I am not grateful,” said Hozar. With her first book done and dusted - she is already busy on a second novel - Hozar took a moment to reflect on the accomplishment and how she is processing the fact her story is about to be out in the world. Read the latest Metro Vancouver arts news.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hozar has a cinematic style to her writing that keeps it very visual, a style heralded by Margaret Atwood who read the novel and said: “A sweeping saga about the Iranian revolution as it explodes - told from the ground level and the centre of chaos. That’s the danger you can run into as a novelist, I think.” I had to make a sort of natural part of the story and not see it as an historical text. “I had to research and learn as much as I could, then almost forget about it. But it was very important the research didn’t make the novel turn into a kind of textbook,” said Hozar. When it came time to write Aria, Hozar said she made a conscious effort to not let the extensive research take the reins of the story. There are still many problems, but its nothing compared to the turmoil of the 80s.” I have friends who live in Iran who are very happy.

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Aria nazanine hozar