Mommy Adventures With Ravina Kurian: Eleanor T Beaty

Saturday 30 March 2013

Eleanor T Beaty – A Surprise Across the World

A Surprise Across the World
by Eleanor T Beaty
In the late 90’s I wrote a novel called Rangur. My initial intention was to use Polynesian mythology as a central theme along with spirituality. I picked the Polynesian culture because they are very spiritual so I could fit my theme in with their culture and beliefs. I purchased a book for the research on the Polynesian people to learn more about their social behaviors. I did know they ate dogs, which already upset me somewhat— okay, a lot—but I had no idea that in some of the islands they practiced cannibalism. They invited their enemies with the pretext of forging a peace treaty and then ambushed and ate them. I wonder how many time they used that tactic!
I decided the antagonist would be a pirate and also researched pirate activity in that area. As my father was a pirate buff, I had an old book of his and found out that in that area of the world the treasures were not gold so much as weapons and whiskey. They used these to trade in Asia for spices and silk. And there weren’t that many famous pirates as in the Caribbean to choose from, however I did manage to find an especially interesting one.
Rahmah Bin Jabr was an Arab corsair known as the butcher chief. I love history so the research was fascinating. As an Arab, Rahmah Bin Jabr was not allowed to steal from the living, a very serious offense in his religion, therefore they never pillaged ships until everyone on board was dead. He found a creative way to get around his religion’s rules! Reminds me of the queen in Alice in Wonderland – off with the messenger’s heads!
Once the book was finished, my cousin—who at that time was traveling often to Turkey—sent me an email saying he had met a guy, whose wife worked for a publisher who was interested in YA books and told me to send my books to her.
I thought this was all a bit far fetched, and I feared Rangur would offend them, as the protagonist was Arab. I had no idea that Turks have a very strong dislike of Arabs, so they actually enjoyed that the bad guy was an Arab.
Still, I thought getting published in Turkey was a long shot, but it happened two years later.
Unfortunately I have a very hard time saying the Turkish title to the book—Karanligin Gozleri, which means Through Eyes of Darkness. It’s in the 5th edition and in the school system. I have an FB fan page for the book based on the number likes it has Rangur is a favorite. Unfortunately I can’t answer my young fans’ messages as I don’t speak Turkish and most don’t speak English. Even so I am moved by their attempt to reach out. A few years later I rewrote the novel, which was just released as Souls of Darkness.
I’m still in awe of how this all went about, that someone across the world would want to publish my novel, before it was published anywhere else. But that’s life, full of surprises!