WEST HOLLYWOOD BOOK FAIR

Last Sunday I was part of IWOSC (Independent Writers of Southern California) asked to read from my novel, A Gift In The Sunlight: An Armenian Story, a story about my mother's survival from the Armenian Genocide. I spent a little time at the IWOSC booth before the read and talked briefly to a gentleman who was well into his seventies, a once upon a time Hollywood screenwriter. When he realized I was Armenian, he said with a bit of sarcasm, "I hope you are not one of those...and I cut him off because I knew to what he was inferring...are you one of those who won't let go of the past and make so much noise about the Armenian genocide...and I responded, "I am my mother's voice."  He immediately retracted and talked about a Jewish holocaust survivor he knew. But for me this was a great lesson.  It was the very first time I used the words, "I am my mother's voice." And it has affected the way I now read my mother's story.

In previous reads I read from a responsibility to history.  The Turks say what happened to the 2 million Turkish Armenians in 1915 was not genocide and are trying to erase this tragic historic event from history.  The depth of my research reveals this extermination of the Turkish Armenians is without doubt genocide...and I now realize my mother's voice won't let me go until the Turkish government recognizes that what happened in 1915 was genocide and will have a conversation about reparations. 

If you want to learn more go to my website for a quick study!  http://www.kaymouradian.com/