In The Web of Time, a desperate Nafusa goes to find the god of Chance and his sister, Fate. He finds the unreliable god above the rock formations that frame the waters of Capri, and begs his cause. The scene had etched itself in my mind when I visited the island (The Island? What place more than this deserves capitalization?) in 2020, the black-eyed god of Chance using the perfection of the frame to tell the grieving cat god that some things, such as Capri, and human life, are uncontrollable, far beyond the realm of the gods.
Last week, two weeks before The Web of Time comes into the world, I went back to Capri, back to those rock formations, and in all of that earthly grandeur said a little prayer. For WOT, of course (it’s my heart), but also for all the things that are happening right now in the world that are not uncontrollable, that are not far beyond the realm of the gods, but firmly in the hands of us mortals (all our hearts).
It has felt discordant, promoting and celebrating a book in the middle of a year with unprecedented global pain, even though I am so aware of what a privilege it is to get to usher a book into the world, and I am honored and awestruck and so, so excited. I’ve been reminded by the incredible Amanda from Blue House, by my amazing friends and by people I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with during this season of introducing WOT, that I owe it to this little story about cultural cross-pollination, about hope, about the power in our coming together and sharing each other’s cultures, not to do it halfheartedly. It’s a tiny thing, to be sure, but we all try our hardest, until we can do even more. (The social enterprise I wanted to highlight is the refugee-powered language school NataKallam, where a portion of all WOT pre-order proceeds go, but there are lots of ways to support what you care about, it doesn’t have to be financial!)
All to say that also this time, I left Capri awed, and humbled, and excited, and troubled, and still afraid. because we are nothing if not paradoxes. But also, I left a little more ready.
So, five days before WOT comes out swinging, here is to seawater and lemons, the beauty of the places we belong, the power of our voices, of listening to and protecting each other. Here is to opening portals, and wishing in the good things to come, together.
Homing Signals is a newsletter on belonging, not-belonging, on cross-cultural connections and the places we call home (and how that changes). It’s also an exploration of a meandering traveling path that has led to The Web of Time, a story about portals between ancient cities, unexpected gods, and memories that both haunt and heal us. WOT is out with Blue House Literary on 20 May (I can’t believe I get to say that!) in partnership with NaTakallam, an amazing social enterprise whose teachers are from conflict-affected communities. As per the wishes of all the WOT characters, a portion of pre-sales will also contribute to NaTakallam’s mission.
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